NAFCU Journal November December 2021

6 THE NAFCU JOURNAL November–December 2021 FROM THE CHAIR YOUR VOICE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE By Tom DeWitt, NAFCU Board Chair A s we come to the end of another year marked by uncertainty, it is more important than ever for credit unions to share with Congress how their actions are impacting your individual institutions, members and communities. Credit unions can play a unique role in advocat- ing for our industry priorities. Advocacy in our industry requires a consistent and united message, and your voice will have an impact. NAFCU remains laser-focused on advocacy in Washington on behalf of the industry and we will continue to identify lawmakers and regulators who embody our industry’s values, fight on behalf of our issues and can garner support on Capitol Hill. I encourage you to use your voice and get involved in fighting against thoughtless attacks from bankers and legislative provisions that would hinder credit union operations. Throughout the past two years, our insti- tutions have further demonstrated that we will be there for our members. We have proven that we will pave the way as our communities rebuild. These stories of triumph and perseverance through hard times only add to the evidence of the credit union difference and these stories must be told. I had the pleasure of meeting with a number of NAFCU-member credit unions in September during NAFCU’s Congressional Caucus. The hybrid event was a great success, with a lineup featur- ing speakers from the Biden Administra- tion, federal financial regulatory agencies and Congress, as well as the facilitation of hundreds of virtual meetings between lawmakers and credit unions. These meetings helped to further the goal of creating impactful relationships between our industry and Congress. During the event, members of NAFCU’s advocacy team urged attendees to get involved. They explained that, with the emergence of virtual meetings, our representatives have never been more accessible. And NAFCU has provided the tools and guidance needed to success- fully request, prepare for and take-part in a meeting with our legislators. I invite you to utilize the association’s Grassroots Action Center—available on the NAFCU website—to contact law- makers, engage in recent efforts, lookup elected officials and more. The Grassroots Action Center also includes a log of recent Action Alerts, which provide a call to action from the association and a curated message tem- plate to send when advocating on behalf of our industry. Earlier this year, the grassroots action center allowed credit unions to tell Congress the impact that additional IRS reporting requirements would have on their operations. The individual feedback that policymak- ers and regulators receive can make a difference in at least three ways. First, it can slow down the movement of the regulation or legislation to allow for policymakers to further evaluate the impact of proposed changes. Second, policymakers can propose changes to lessen the impact that has been outlined. And, lastly, policymakers can decide not to move the policy forward if it is seen as negatively impacting our industry. Your voice will make a difference in policy- makers changing course. I am proud to serve the credit union industry and its 127 million members, and I am certain we can work together to gather support for our initiatives as our country moves toward a better tomorrow. Tom DeWitt is president and CEO of State Farm Federal Credit Union in Bloomington, IL.