Advocacy in Action: DCUC’s Bold Initiative to Strengthen the Voice of Defense Credit Unions

DCUC’s Advocacy Reimagined is an exciting new initiative for the Council, marking a significant expansion of DCUC’s
advocacy efforts in both our Nation’s capital and beyond. As you are aware, defense credit unions play a unique and critical role in serving military personnel, veterans, and their families. Now, more than ever, it is essential the defense credit union voice is heard clearly and powerfully at the federal level, where legislative and regulatory decisions can have profound impacts on credit unions’ ability to continue serving those who serve our country.

Through DCUC’s Advocacy Reimagined, we are dramatically enhancing DCUC and its members presence and influence in Washington, providing a stronger, more unified voice for defense credit unions and ensuring that the needs of military families are front and center in key policy discussions. This new approach to DCUC’s advocacy is designed to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing political and regulatory environment, equipping us with the tools, relationships, and strategies necessary to protect and advance the interests of our members.

The Need for a New Approach to Advocacy 
The financial services sector is undergoing dramatic changes, and credit unions, particularly those serving military communities, are facing an evolving landscape filled with both opportunities and challenges. Over the past several  years, we have seen:

Increased Legislative Scrutiny
Both Congress and federal regulatory agencies have been increasingly active in shaping the rules governing the financial services industry. From potential reforms to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to ongoing discussions about the future of credit unions’ tax-exempt status, policymakers are scrutinizing every aspect of our industry. Without a strong advocacy presence, credit unions risk being subject to policies that could harm our members and undermine the core principles of our cooperative model.

Evolving Regulatory Requirements
Regulatory compliance is becoming more complex and costly, particularly for smaller credit unions. New requirements from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and other regulators have added significant burdens, making it harder for credit unions to serve their members efficiently and affordably. Defense credit unions, in particular, are facing additional compliance challenges due to the unique needs of military families, such as frequent relocations and deployments.

Ongoing Threats to Our Tax-Exempt Status
As you know, banks and other for-profit financial institutions continue to challenge the tax-exempt status of credit unions. This persistent threat requires a coordinated and robust defense. Losing our tax-exempt status would severely limit our ability to provide affordable financial services, forcing credit unions to raise fees, reduce member services, and limit loan accessibility.

Expanding Service Expectations for Military Families
Defense credit unions are on the front lines of supporting military families’ financial well-being, but the expectations of these members are growing. Whether its offering specialized loan products, helping military personnel manage transitions between active service and civilian life, or providing financial literacy programs, defense credit unions are being called upon to do more. We must ensure that policymakers understand and support the critical role defense credit unions have in ensuring and protecting the financial prosperity of our Nation’s military, veterans, and their families.

What Advocacy Reimagined Means for You
In response to these growing challenges, DCUC’s Advocacy Reimagined represents a transformative expansion of DCUC’s advocacy efforts. Our goal is to elevate the voice of defense credit unions and ensure that our priorities are represented in the policy discussions that matter most. Here’s what you can expect from our expanded representation on behalf of our members:

A Stronger, More Focused Presence on Capitol Hill
DCUC is significantly expanding our engagement with lawmakers in both the House and Senate. We are building stronger relationships with key members of Congress who sit on critical committees, such as the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee. Our team is actively working to ensure that defense credit unions have champions on Capitol Hill who understand the unique role we play in serving military and veteran communities and who will join us in advocating on your behalf.

Proactive Engagement with Federal Agencies
In addition to Congress, federal regulatory agencies play a significant role in shaping the financial services environment. DCUC is deepening its relationships with regulators such as the NCUA, CFPB, and the Department of Defense (DoD), ensuring the specific needs of defense credit unions are taken into account when new rules and regulations are being developed or discussed. We are committed to engaging with regulators early in the rulemaking process to provide feedback and influence decisions that could affect your credit union’s operations.

Targeted Advocacy Campaigns
DCUC is launching targeted advocacy campaigns around key issues that directly impact defense credit unions. For example, we are working to protect the tax-exempt status of credit unions, defend against overregulation, and advocate for expanded field-of-membership flexibility. These campaigns are designed to engage lawmakers and regulators at multiple levels, using a combination of direct advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and strategic partnerships with other credit union trade organizations.

Enhanced Legislative and Regulatory Monitoring
Staying informed about the latest legislative and regulatory developments is critical for defense credit unions. DCUC is enhancing its legislative and regulatory monitoring capabilities; providing our members with timely, relevant updates on the issues that matter most, along with actionable insights that credit unions can use to respond to emerging challenges. Whether it’s a new proposed regulation or a pending bill in Congress, DCUC will ensure that you have the information you need to make informed decisions.

A Unified, Coordinated Voice for Defense Credit Unions
One of the key goals of DCUC’s Advocacy Reimagined is to ensure that defense credit unions have a unified, coordinated voice in Washington, D.C. By working together, we can amplify our impact and ensure that the concerns of defense credit unions are heard and addressed. DCUC is facilitating collaboration between credit unions and other stakeholders to ensure that our advocacy efforts are aligned and focused on the issues that matter most.

New Grassroots Engagement Opportunities
Effective advocacy requires active engagement from credit union leaders, employees, and members. As part of DCUC’s Advocacy Reimagined, the Council has already begun launching new grassroots engagement programs that will empower your credit union and its members with further opportunities to play a direct role in our advocacy efforts. Through these programs, we will provide resources and tools to help your credit union engage with lawmakers, participate in advocacy campaigns, and make your voice heard on critical issues.
​
How Your Credit Union Can Get Involved
The success of the Advocacy Reimagined initiative depends on the active participation of credit unions like yours. We encourage you to take advantage of the expanded resources and opportunities that DCUC is offering as part of this initiative. Here are a few ways your credit union can get involved:

Participate in Legislative Visits
Join DCUC for visits to Capitol Hill, where we meet with key lawmakers and advocate on behalf of defense credit unions like yours. These visits provide an opportunity for credit union leaders to share their stories directly with policymakers and help shape the legislative agenda.

Engage in DCUC’s Grassroots Advocacy
Mobilize your credit union’s board, staff, volunteers, and members to participate in DCUC’s grassroots advocacy efforts. We will provide you with the tools and resources needed to engage your membership and encourage them to contact their elected officials on important issues.

Stay Informed and Active
Keep up to date with the latest legislative and regulatory developments by subscribing to DCUC’s ALERT, emails, and monthly Military Advocacy Committee (MAC) meetings. We will provide you with timely information and opportunities to take action on issues that could impact your credit union and its members.

DCUC’s Advocacy Reimagined initiative is a bold, new step in DCUC’s continued mission to protect and promote the interests of defense credit unions and the military and veteran communities we serve. By expanding our presence and influence within the Capital, we are ensuring defense credit unions have the resources, relationships, and strategies needed to succeed in an increasingly complex and challenging environment.

We are excited about the future of this initiative and the positive impact it will have on credit unions like yours. If you have any questions or would like more information about DCUC’s Advocacy Reimagined, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to working with you to protect and strengthen the credit union movement.