AFSA Hits the Hill
AFSA members stressed the importance of access to credit directly with legislators and policymakers this week during AFSA’s annual fly-in.
Consumer credit is crucial to Americans from coast to coast. Engaging with policymakers is one of the best ways to ensure they understand the importance of access to credit, and the importance of policies that keep the access open.
One message the Members of Congress hammered home with us: there’s no group of constituents they would rather hear from than AFSA members and their customers telling their stories.
AFSA members had engaging meetings with both Democrat and Republican Members of Congress. Representatives made it clear in their dialogue with our member companies that they understand the crucial role our industry plays in the lives of consumers and reinforced their commitment to working with AFSA and our members to ensure access to credit remains strong.
AFSA had productive meetings with both John McNamara, Asst. Director of Markets and the Assistant Director of Consumer Credit, Payments, and Deposit Markets at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Malini Mithal, Associate Director of Financial Practices at the Federal Trade Commission.
AFSA meetings with Democrats included Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO), Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX), Rep. Bill Foster (IL), Rep. Susie Lee (NV), and Rep. Darren Soto (FL).
AFSA meetings with Republican Members included Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry (NC), Rep. Andy Barr (KY), Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (WI), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (NY), Rep. Richard Hudson (NC), Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI), Rep. Young Kim (CA), Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA), Rep. Bill Posey (FL), and Rep. William Timmons (SC).
Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) also spoke to AFSA members about the importance of consumer credit. Also meeting with AFSA were Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Gary Peters (D-MI), and staff from Tim Scott’s (R-SC) office.
The gathering, which was featured in Politico Influence, concluded with meetings with officials from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
June 8th, 2023 by Dan Bucherer
