CUNA pushes for credit union priorities in funding legislation

The Credit Union National Association is hoping to include language related to issues important to the industry in appropriations legislation.

The trade group issued a letter, which was signed by President and CEO Jim Nussle, to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on Monday highlighting three provisions that they wanted addressed in “any final appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2019.”

Jim Remington

For its first provision, CUNA argues that the Department of Justice should clarify website accessibility standards. A number of credit unions have faced lawsuits alleging that their websites don’t meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. CUNA notes in its letter that the confusion places small businesses at a disadvantage.

In its second provision, CUNA is requesting that the secretary of state expand opportunities for small businesses or cooperatives so that they can compete for State Department contracts. The language CUNA hopes to include in the legislation would emphasize ensuring that small and minority-owned companies can compete for business from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The third provision asks the Federal Communications Commission to clarify parts of the agency’s 2015 Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The trade group specifically wants clarity on what constitutes an autodialer and how businesses should handle reassigned numbers.

“CUNA worked with House appropriators last year to include three important report provisions in three different appropriations bills,” CUNA’s letter reads. “However, none of these fiscal year 2019 funding bills have been enacted into law.”