A Weekly Legislative Update From CUNA

The House and Senate This Week (04/09/2013)

The House and the Senate are back in Washington after a two week Spring District Work Period.   The House will met on Tuesday to consider legislation under suspension of the rules.  It is also considering H.R. 678, the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act and H.R. 1120, the Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act.  The Senate convened at 2 p.m. on Monday to consider Patty Shwartz to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit.  The schedule for the remainder of the week has not been finalized; however, it has been speculated that the Senate will next move to consider gun control measures. 

Several hearings are being followed on both sides of the Capitol, including:

Wednesday
  • The House Financial Services Committee Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee will hold a hearing on "Examining Credit Union Regulatory Burdens."  Pamela Stephens, President and CEO of Security One FCU in Arlington, Texas, will testify on behalf of CUNA.  Other witnesses at the hearing include Robert Burrow, President and CEO of Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union in West Virginia, who will testify on behalf of NAFCU, and Mitchell Reiver, General Counsel of Melrose Credit Union in New York.  The hearing will begin at 2pm on Wednesday and will be webcast on the Committee’s website.  Each witness’s written testimony will be posted here when it is available.  

  • The House Financial Services Committee Housing and Insurance Subcommittee will hold a hearing on "Sustainable Housing Finance: Perspectives on Reforming the FHA (Federal Housing Administration)." 

  • The House Ways and Means Committee Oversight Subcommittee will have a hearing on the government's ability to prioritize its obligations and continue operations should the U.S. Treasury reach its statutory debt limit.  

  • The House Appropriations Committee Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing on "Small Business Administration Oversight." 

Thursday
  • The House Financial Services Committee International Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the U.S. role in the International Monetary Fund.  

  • The House Ways and Means Committee plans to hold a hearing on President Obama's FY2014 budget. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is scheduled to testify.  

  • Secretary Lew will also testify on the same day at the Senate Finance Committee hearing on "The President's FY2014 Budget."  

  • The House Financial Services Committee Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee will hold a hearing on "Legislative Proposals Regarding Derivatives and SEC Economic Analysis." 

  • The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection Subcommittee will have a hearing on "Outsourcing Accountability? Examining the Role of Independent Consultants."

Ryan Donovan
Senior Vice President, Legislative Affairs
Credit Union National Association