[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 38 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN SUPPORT OF THE CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP ACCESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE E. BROWN, JR.

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 20, 1997

  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my 
distinguished colleagues on the House Banking Committee, Mr. LaTourette 
and Mr. Kanjorski, and 15 other bipartisan colleagues, in introducing 
the Credit Union Membership Access Act. The bill will preserve the 
rights of millions of Americans to join and continue their access to 
credit unions.
  In a ruling against the AT&T Family Federal Credit Union, the U.S. 
Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, ruled on July 
30, 1996, that a credit union cannot have among its members more than 
one group having a common bond of occupation. That appeals court 
decision, as a result of a full court lobbying by large banks, casts in 
doubt the ability of a credit union to serve multiple groups of 
employees by overturning 15 years of established National Credit Union 
Administration [NCUA] policy as it relates to who is eligible to join a 
credit union.
  If fast action is not taken, millions of Americans will be forced to 
give up their access to the financial services they otherwise would 
receive through a credit union. The Credit Union Membership Access Act 
is a bipartisan effort to bring a legislative remedy as quickly as 
possible to the common bond issue. The bill would preserve the 
longstanding policy of the NCUA with regard to field of membership in 
Federal credit unions. It would also clarify that it is the intent of 
Congress that the NCUA has authority to determine occupational, 
associational, and community charters for Federal credit unions.
  The measure, which I had been helping develop for the past several 
months, was carefully drafted in close consultation with local and 
national leaders of the credit union community. As a longtime supporter 
of the credit union movement in the United States, I am honored to be 
part of this effort and to be included on the ground floor of the 
bipartisan congressional group submitting this important measure to the 
House of Representatives. To reaffirm my continued support for our 
Nation's credit unions, I urge my colleagues from both sides of the 
aisle to support the passage of the Credit Union Membership Access Act.

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