WASHINGTON — The speaker's list for NAFCU's Congressional Caucus, Sept. 9-12, is growing with key leaders impacting credit unions.

CURIA sponsors Congressmen Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.) and Ed Royce (R-Calif.), who have championed the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act (H.R. 1537) since its inception, will be two of the featured speakers. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who requested the recently released Government Accountability Office study of bank tax preferences and was an original CURIA co-sponsor in the House, will make an appearance; from the stage last year he said he would be interested in introducing CURIA in the Senate. House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) are also slated to speak.

From the regulatory side, NAFCU has confirmed NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson, NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood, Federal Housing Finance Board Member Geoff Bacino, and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Director James Freis.

The opening session speaker Monday of the Caucus will be political analyst Charlie Cook of The Cook Report.

“This year is no time to be an innocent bystander,” said NAFCU President Fred Becker. “Everyone must take up the charge on behalf of federal credit unions. During this legislative session, we have the opportunity to advance important legislation, such as CURIA.” He added that credit unions must be prepared to fend off attempts to apply Community Reinvestment Act requirements and defend the tax-exemption.