Credit unions take tax advocacy strategy to lawmakers on Capitol Hill

May 1, 2025

Credit unions brought their tax advocacy strategy directly to Capitol Hill Wednesday, meeting with House and Senate members - including several on key committees - to share the message: “Don’t Tax My Credit Union.” 

Advocates from credit unions in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, along with their state credit union association leaders, joined with America’s Credit Unions lobbyists in visiting their delegations. While the House Ways and Means Committee could potentially address the credit union tax status in their bill writing, all House committees are working on portions of the budget reconciliation bill that will be brought together in a final version for a vote by all House members.  

At these Hill meetings, participants focused on making sure every single member of Congress from their states - along with their staff - was aware how important it is to maintain the credit union tax status in the upcoming tax reform legislation, noting that changing the tax status would amount to a tax increase on more than 140 million Americans. Arkansas’ UP Federal Credit Union President/CEO Karyn Davis and Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union President/CEO Tammy Passafiume, together with America’s Credit Unions and Cornerstone League, met with the state’s Congressional delegation. Meetings took place with the offices of Sens. John Boozman, R, and Tom Cotton, R, House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill, R, and Reps. Rick Crawford, R, Steve Womack, R, and Bruce Westerman, R.

A group of Missouri credit union leaders held their first of two days visiting Capitol Hill, joining with America’s Credit Unions and the Cornerstone League to meet with staff for both Sens. Josh Hawley, R, and Eric Schmitt, R, as well as House Financial Services Committee Member Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D, Rep. Sam Graves, R, and freshman Rep. Wesley Bell, D. Missouri attendees included Together Credit Union Brand Connections Manager Julie Linder, Mazuma Credit Union Vice President of Member Engagement and Government Affairs Laura Eblen, United Consumers Credit Union President Jay Neathery, Assemblies of God Credit Union President/CEO Peter Shiner, and Volt Credit Union President/CEO Chris Moss.

Tinker Federal Credit Union in Oklahoma sent its Vice President of Government Affairs Keili McEwen to meet with the office of Rep. Kevin Hern, R, a House Ways and Means Committee member, together with Cornerstone League and America’s Credit Unions.

Additional credit union Hill meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks. Credit union advocates can also take action by writing their members of Congress, alerting them to the need to protect the credit union tax status as this bill is drafted in the next few weeks.