Day The Senators Called

Published February 29, 2008, 4:12 p.m. EST

Updated August 26, 2020, 10:01 p.m. EDT

2 Min Read

I vividly recall April 30, 1998. Our Annual Membership Meeting was in session with keynote speaker CUNA Mutual Group CEO Mike Kitchen. While Kitchen was speaking, I was handed a note that Senate Banking Committee Chairman Alfonse D’Amato was on line wanting to address the Texas credit union assembly.

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Just prior to Kitchen’s address, CUNA CEO Dan Mica addressed the assembly telephonicallydescribing the rollercoaster ride in Committee with HR 1151 and crediting D’Amato with reviving the legislation. Texas league VP-Government Relations Jeff Huffman was in Washington at the time attending committee meetings and communicating with Texas congressmen and their staffs.

We asked Mike if he would stand aside for this important and unusual call from Capitol Hill; he agreed. D’Amato was quickly patched into the public address system. D’Amato asked for me and I described his audience. He delivered fiery remarks supporting credit unions, saying he was working to keep credit unions alive and well. He shared the progress, or lack of progress, occurring at that very moment in Banking Committee deliberations. He said he was putting his neck on the line and was alone amongst Republicans in supporting the field of membership expansion provision. He and I shared brief remarks; then the Texas credit union audience gave him a loud ovation.

Mike Kitchen resumed addressing the delegates. In the meantime, Jeff, in D.C., quickly shared with Texas Sen. Phil Gramm’s staff that D’Amato was addressing the league’s membership meeting which may be of interest to the Senator (Gramm was the second ranking Republican Committee member). Five minutes into Kitchen’s second attempt to deliver his message, Sen. Gramm called in seeking the same opportunity as Sen. D’Amato. Without pause, Mike Kitchen yielded to the Texas congressman’s request of the league.

Sen. Gramm gave his version of committee deliberations. After several questions, it was apparent he was “looking for ways to help.” At the moment, that may not have been convincing to the meeting delegates. When the senator paused for applause, not a hand clapped. The quiet was deafening and he graciously thanked us for taking his call.

During the convention, TCUL had a campaign headquarters where attendees phoned or wrote Senators Gramm and Kay Bailey Hutchison urging them to vote for the Senate Committee version of the Credit Union Membership Access Act. Many also sent thank you letters to Sen. D’Amato.

Much has happened since then. But what have we learned and what is unchanged? We must always be vigilant. Do not rest upon our laurels. Know that grassroots involvement is essential. Ours is a democracy and with democracy comes responsibility as an association and as CU members. Be ready to respond when the next action call comesit will come. It is the people, the credit union member-owners, who make the difference. And, our elected officials know how they are elected to office with your votes.

One more note: With a two-week notice, on July 14, 1998, more than 150 Texans flew to D.C. for a national rally to show support for passage of the bill. At that event, Sen. Gramm told the crowd, “The Senate is going to pass this bill, and the President is going to sign itIt is going to happen because of you. There are few organizations in America that could have brought this many people to Washington on this type of issue.”

Dick Ensweiler, President & CEO