Legislative Update with Kenley

Dakota advocates are heading to GAC 2026 to champion key federal issues impacting credit unions and their members.

By Kenley Lamberty, DakCU Director of Political Strategy and Engagement
​
2026 GAC: Key Issues and Advocacy Priorities for the Dakotas
America’s Credit Unions 2026 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) is nearly here, taking place March 1–5 in Washington, D.C., and we are excited to join credit union advocates from across the country as we champion the issues that matter most to your credit unions and your members. Whether you are attending in person or supporting from home, this year’s advocacy agenda is packed with critical legislation affecting affordability, fraud prevention, member service, and access to responsible credit. If you are unable to join us in D.C. and have questions about any of these issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we are here to help.

This year, credit unions are closely watching a wide range of bills that reflect our shared priorities: easing compliance burdens, improving operational flexibility, expanding lending opportunities, strengthening fraud protections, and preventing harmful government mandates that would restrict access to credit. These advocacy messages will guide our conversations with lawmakers and their staff across Capitol Hill throughout the conference.

At the forefront of our agenda is the push to advance policies that improve affordability for families and small businesses. Credit unions already play a vital role in delivering safe, affordable financial services, and we are urging Congress to expand and modernize the frameworks that help us meet members’ needs. This includes supporting the STREAMLINE Act (Senate Bill (S) 3017) and the Financial Reporting Threshold Modernization Act (House Bill (H.R.) 1799), which would raise outdated Currency Transaction Report (CTR) and Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) thresholds to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden and allow more resources to be directed toward member service. We will also be encouraging support for the Credit Union Board Modernization Act (S. 522 / H.R. 975), a commonsense change that gives well‑run credit unions the flexibility to calibrate board meeting requirements and prioritize strategic oversight.

Expanding lending options is another essential priority. Several bills would help credit unions better support students, veterans, farmers, small businesses, and rural economies. Among them, the Expanding Access to Lending Options Act (S. 3616 / H.R. 4167) would allow for loan terms longer than 15 years, giving credit unions more flexibility in offering affordable products for higher‑cost or long‑term needs. The Veterans Member Business Loan Act (S. 110 / H.R. 507) would exempt loans to veterans from the member business lending cap—an important step in recognizing and supporting veteran‑owned small businesses. Similarly, the Increasing Credit Union Lending for Business Growth Act (H.R. 1791) would modernize the threshold for business lending, reflecting today’s economy and the real costs faced by small enterprises.

Alongside affordability and access, fraud prevention continues to be a major focus nationwide. Credit unions are asking Congress and regulators to work together to modernize guidance, update regulations, and provide the tools necessary to combat increasingly sophisticated fraud activity. These updates are essential for safeguarding consumers’ information and maintaining trust across the financial system.

Finally, we are urging policymakers to reject harmful mandates and one‑size‑fits‑all rate caps that would ultimately hurt the very consumers they intend to help. Proposals like the Credit Card Competition Act (S. 3623 / H.R. 7035) would disrupt the electronic payments system and repeat the negative consequences seen after the Durbin Amendment imposed debit routing mandates in 2010. Similarly, we oppose new interest rate caps proposed in bills such as the Ten Percent Credit Card Interest Rate Cap Act (S. 381 / H.R. 1944) and the Credit Card Fairness Act (S. 3660). These measures would reduce access to safe and affordable credit, shift costs onto responsible cardholders, and force high‑risk borrowers toward more costly and less regulated alternatives. These policies would remove critical financial tools that millions rely on, particularly those in rural, underserved, or financially vulnerable communities.

As we gather for GAC, our priorities remain clear: protect affordability, expand access, modernize outdated rules, strengthen fraud defenses, and prevent harmful mandates that would hinder credit unions’ ability to serve their members. We are excited to represent the voices of North and South Dakota credit unions in Washington, and we look forward to productive conversations with our federal delegation.
  
​Stay Connected
For more information or to share your perspectives, feel free to contact me. ​