Advocacy in Action: Making an Impact in 2025

With Congress heading back to work after the long holiday weekend, it's a great time to reflect on what we've accomplished together so far in 2025.

It's been a busy and successful year for advocacy. We've worked closely with credit unions and our partners to protect our industry, successfully preserving the credit union tax status. On the local level, we also defeated attempts in Maryland and DC to alter how interchange fees are calculated, securing another victory.

Plus, we were honored to have Maryland Governor Wes Moore join us and refer to credit unions as "invaluable partners," during his keynote address at our annual convention. We also had the opportunity to meet with every member of our congressional delegations, along with Governor Matt Meyer of Delaware.

Here are the Advocacy highlights…

Federal

• Partnered with fellow Leagues, credit unions, members, America's Credit Unions, AACUL, and industry allies to protect the credit union tax exemption.
• Achieved a record turnout at GAC with 45 credit union leaders participating in Hill visits and 85 attending the annual Advocacy Luncheon featuring Representative Johnny O (MD-2).
• Delaware Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester included a quote from MD|DC Credit Union Association CEO John Bratsakis in her press release announcing her co-sponsorship of the Credit Union Board Modernization Act.
• Hosted Leading Through Uncertainty webinars featuring Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen and NCUA Regional Director John Kutchey.

Maryland

• Welcomed Governor Wes Moore as keynote speaker at CONNECT 2025.
• Defeated a bill that would have excluded taxes and tips from interchange fee calculations.
• Supported and secured passage of legislation exempting certain mortgage trusts from licensing requirements.
• Successfully stopped implementation of a new land record fee proposed by the Maryland Archives, which would have significantly increased costs for members buying or refinancing property.
• Convened the Maryland Innovation Roundtable with state leaders and credit unions to foster economic opportunity and expand access to financial services.
• Represent credit unions on the Governor's Access to Banking Task Force and the Comptroller's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy.

Delaware

• Convened a roundtable, hosted by DEXSTA FCU, with Governor Matt Meyer and Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez.
• Met with Senate Banking Committee Chair Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos and committee members at Legislative Hall; Association and credit union leaders were introduced on the Senate floor.
• Launched the new Delaware Network, drawing over 50 credit union professionals to the May kickoff, which featured speed networking.

DC

• Successfully kept provisions from the proposed Fair Swipe Act of 2025, which would have exempted sales tax and tips from interchange fees, out of the DC Council budget.
• Secured publication of an op-ed by a Washington, D.C. credit union CEO opposing the Fair Swipe Act in a local news outlet.
• Testified in support of advancing financial literacy in DC.