While securing the credit union tax status dominated our advocacy efforts—and headlines—in the first half of 2025, America’s Credit Unions and the league system never lost focus on efforts to address other legislative and regulatory credit union needs. The momentum we built this year, partnered with our longstanding relationships in Washington, allow us to ensure legislation and regulations reflect credit union needs and deliver real results. And our wins continue.
The recent “Crypto Week” saw Congress pass several bills that give credit unions vital space in the digital assets marketplace. This includes the GENIUS Act, which was signed into law following our robust advocacy efforts to ensure parity for credit unions while also preventing problematic language.
This bill creates a regulatory framework for stablecoins, putting credit unions on equal footing with banks in the definition of “insured depository institution.” It also contains language allowing credit union service organizations to serve as an appropriate subsidiary entity to issue stablecoins and designated the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) as the primary stablecoin regulator for the credit union industry.
This inclusion and parity puts credit unions in a good position in the emerging stablecoin market, and we’ve encouraged the NCUA to start the rulemaking processes necessary to implement this bill.
The House Financial Services Committee also passed a slate of bills with credit union impact—ranging from examination relief, to ending regulation-by-guidance, and helping increase credit union access by fostering the creation of de novo credit unions.
Along with these efforts, America’s Credit Unions and leagues are continuing to gather more sponsors and move forward bills to address board modernization, member business lending updates, and additional flexibility to provide services that members need.
With Congress back home for the August recess, it’s the perfect time to engage with federal lawmakers locally, thanking them for their support, and building on our momentum to achieve even more advocacy success this year.
Credit union stories make a real impact—we saw that firsthand in the fight to protect our tax status. When you show how you go above and beyond for your members, it proves to policymakers that credit unions are essential to both economic and community success.
However, Congress needs constant reminders and reassurance that their constituents are the very same people that credit unions serve—the farmers, teachers, service members, veterans, first responders, and small business owners who keep America strong.
Making credit unions more accessible helps Main Street thrive—and when Main Street succeeds, so do credit unions. It’s how we continue proving our value as the only financial institutions truly focused on members' needs.
This August, share the credit union story. Whether you're meeting lawmakers at your branch, a local event, or even in the grocery store, what matters is making that connection. Show them how credit unions deliver real impact. Invite them to meet their constituents. Give them stories that stick—and relationships that last.
Your outreach with lawmakers and activating members helped us secure the tax status this year, and your efforts at home will help secure future opportunities for credit unions, the 144 million members you serve, and countless other people who would benefit from one of the most powerful, pro-consumer forces in the country.
