Legislative Update with Chesney

House and Senate leaders are negotiating budget resolutions and the debt limit, and DakCU's Summit will feature a silent auction supporting credit union advocacy scholarships.

by Chesney Garnos, Executive Director of Government Affairs
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National Advocacy Update
Reconciliation
On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R–LA), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R–SD), and the chairs of the House and Senate Republican Committees will meet to begin discussions on their budget resolutions for reconciliation. House Republicans aim to pass a budget resolution before the Easter recess. However, Majority Leader Thune recently noted that the Senate is unlikely to move forward with Trump's border security, energy, and tax agenda until at least July. Major sticking points in the negotiations include tax cuts, the debt limit, Medicaid, and defense spending.

The debt limit remains one of the most contentious issues. This morning, the Bipartisan Policy Center indicated that the debt limit deadline is likely to be reached after the Treasury’s extraordinary measures are exhausted, between mid-July and early October. House Republicans would prefer to increase the debt limit as part of the reconciliation package, while alternative reports suggest that lawmakers might attach a debt limit increase to a disaster aid package.

House
The House reconvened yesterday at noon for a morning session and at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business, with votes expected at 6:30 p.m.

Senate
The Senate returned yesterday at 3:00 p.m. Following remarks by the Majority Leader, the Senate resumed consideration of John Phelan for Secretary of the Navy with a confirmation vote. Additionally, a second confirmation vote on Christopher Landau for Deputy Secretary of State is expected.

Silent Auction BACK at Summit
Exciting news: our silent auction and gift card raffle are back at this year’s Summit to support the Roger Heacock Scholarship Fund!

Your participation can make a real difference in advancing credit union advocacy. Funds raised through the auction and raffle are used to provide financial assistance scholarships to credit union professionals from North and South Dakota who attend the National Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, DC, as well as other meetings such as our fall “Hike the Hill.” Since 2008, 101 scholarships have been awarded, totaling $85,500, enabling many individuals to become more engaged and active in the credit union movement.

Join us for the Summit silent auction, available both in person and online! The auction begins at 8:20 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13, and ends at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14. All bids will be submitted, and winners will be notified through the ClickBid platform. To participate, please register in advance by texting “DakCU” to 56651 or visiting https://dakcu.cbo.io.

There is also an opportunity for your credit union to give back. We are now accepting donations for this year’s silent auction. Below are some popular donations from past events:

• Sports and Recreation: Golf items, event tickets like NDSU or SDSU, and even tech gadgets.
• Premium Beverage Servers: Bartesian cocktails; margarita machines.
• Coffee and Espresso Machines: Nespresso; Keurig; L’OR Barista System.
• Gourmet and Leisure Baskets: Wine packages, themed gift baskets, cookware, and grilling accessories.
• Inflatable Movie Screens: Outdoor entertainment accessories.
• Luxury Gifts: Jewelry, watches, handbags, high-end tech items from brands like Apple, Bose, and Samsung.
• Gift Cards: Various gift cards/certificates to restaurants, Amazon, Visa cash cards, and national chain stores.
• Vacation and Experience Packages: Weekend getaways, spa retreats, hotel stays, tours, and unique experiences.

If you are donating an item, please note the following:

• Donation items should be valued at $100 or more to sustain our scholarship levels.
• Bring your donation item(s) to the event for display or provide them to our Advocacy Team in advance for optimal showcasing.
• Submit your donation in advance using the easy form available via the provided link. If you encounter any issues, please contact [email protected] or call 701.250.3928.
• All donations should be submitted by May 2nd to allow ample time to prepare and finalize the auction platform.

Important Auction Details for Bidders:

• Donations will be listed in advance on ClickBid.
• Bidders must reside in North or South Dakota to participate.
• Bidders must be at least 21 years of age when bidding on items that include alcohol.

For the Winners:

• Winners will receive an automatic notification through ClickBid if they are the highest bidder.
• If you are present at the Summit, please retrieve your item(s) in person.
• If you are not at the Summit, please arrange for a local representative to pick up your item(s), or we will contact you to help coordinate delivery (shipping fees may apply).

We look forward to another successful fundraiser at this year’s Annual Summit, taking place from May 12–14 in Fargo, ND, at the Delta Hotel and Conference Center. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to [email protected].