WASHINGTON — As time on the congressional calendar is slipping away before the Thanksgiving recess, another co-sponsor has been added to the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act (H.R. 1537).

Representative Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), who co-sponsored the bill last Congress, signed onto the bill again as the 137th co-sponsor. Including primary sponsor Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.), Berkley makes 138 members of Congress officially behind CURIA.

CURIA would expand credit union business lending opportunities, establish a risk-based capital framework, and allow all federal credit union charter types to adopt underserved areas. A hearing had been discussed on CURIA-related issues this year before the full House Financial Services Committee but it is not expected to meet on legislation prior to the two-week recess starting this weekend. The leadership has said the House will likely meet for two weeks in December and then go back out for Christmas until January.