[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 81 (Friday, June 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ON THE RETIREMENT OF DIANE FURNAS FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF 
                         FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 2005

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is with great 
pleasure that I rise today to recognize Diane Furnas' retirement as 
Chair of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU). 
Since her election in 2003 as the first female Chair of the NAFCU 
Board, Ms. Furnas has been a leader in the credit union community both 
nationally and within the great state of Texas.
  For the past two years, Ms. Furnas has been balancing her time as 
NAFCU Chair and President/CEO of Southwest Airlines Federal Credit 
Union, headquartered in my District. At her credit union, Ms. Furnas 
has fostered several savings programs targeted to today's youth at her 
credit union by teaching the importance of saving through targeted 
programs ranging from kindergarten through college. She has promoted 
financial education programs and has armed her members with protecting 
themselves against identity theft.
  Throughout her tenure as Chair of the NAFCU Board of Directors, Ms. 
Furnas worked tirelessly to enhance the federal credit union charter by 
working with Congress for regulatory relief legislation for credit 
unions. As Chair, she has also helped maintain NAFCU's status as a 
leading credit union trade association. She was first elected to the 
NAFCU Board in 1998, the same year she received NAFCU's prestigious 
``Professional of the Year'' award. Ms. Furnas is also the silver award 
recipient in the 2005 Society of National Association Publications 
Excel Awards for a column published in The Federal Credit Union 
magazine.
  I rise today to congratulate Ms. Diane Furnas on all of her fine work 
throughout her illustrious tenure as Chair of NAFCU. With her more than 
30 years' experience in the credit union community, there is no doubt 
in my mind that our good friends at NAFCU will feel a great void once 
Ms. Furnas steps down. Ms. Furnas deserves our heartfelt thanks for her 
years of dedicated service and our best wishes for the future.

                          ____________________