As credit union executives were hiking the Hill this week duringCUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference, their efforts did not gounnoticed by many lawmakers.

In particular, 16 legislators signed up to cosponsor H.R. 3380,the House bill to expand credit union member business lendingauthorities, which was a major focus of the GAC. The new cosponsorswho signed up Feb. 25 included Democratic Representatives CarolynMaloney (N.Y.), Carolyn Kilpatrick (Mich.), John Sarbanes (Md.),Patrick Kennedy (R.I.), Neil Abercrombie (Hawaii), Chellie Penigree(Maine), James Langevin (R.I.), Gary Peters (Mich.), Larry Kissell(N.C.), Alan Grayson (Fla.), Christopher Carney (Pa.), Steve Kagen(Wis.) and Pete Stark (Calif.). The new Republican cosponsorscomprise Elton Gallegly (Calif.), Candice Miller (Mich.) and GusBilirakis (Fla.).

"Leagues and credit unions were energized by GAC this week andhit the Hill with full force," CUNA Vice President ofCommunications Pat Keefe stated. "Their effort helps build momentumbehind business lending legislation, and shows the power of thecredit union movement. If they want to make the point that creditunions have sustainable power, credit union activists mustabsolutely continue their contacts with their lawmakers on bothsides of the Hill on this key issue."