Congress is running out of time. Credit unions aren’t waiting.

September marks the unofficial end of summer and the start of a new season. Kids are  heading back to school, pumpkin spice lattes are back and Congress is entering a critical final stretch of the 119th Congress.

For credit unions, though, September isn’t about starting fresh. It’s about building on the  work and momentum we’ve created all year. Across the country and in Washington, credit unions have been showing up: serving their 146 million members, telling their stories, and making the case for policies that protect their ability to help people achieve greater  financial freedom.

That work has laid a strong foundation. Now, as lawmakers turn their attention to the final months of this Congress, we have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to build on it.

Our collective advocacy has already delivered meaningful results this Congress. We’ve  kept harmful interchange proposals at bay by demonstrating the real-world consequences they would have for credit unions and the consumers and communities they serve, while successfully protecting the credit union tax status through multiple iterations of  reconciliation legislation.

We’ve successfully reminded lawmakers of the importance of credit union modernization and regulatory parity, culminating in passage of the bipartisan Credit Union Board Modernization Act (CUBMA).

CUBMA becoming law was the result of years of strategic advocacy and a strong presence  on Capitol Hill, making the case that reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens and  modernizing outdated requirements ultimately benefits the Americans credit unions serve.

It was a significant victory for the credit union movement, but we’re not done and we’re not waiting years for the next one.

These wins demonstrate what’s possible when the credit union movement speaks with a  strong, unified voice, but they also underscore the importance of maintaining that  momentum through the final stretch.

After credit unions and Leagues spent the August recess meeting with lawmakers in their  districts and states, this month the credit union industry converged on Capitol Hill to  strategize and sharpen skills to protect and advance credit union priorities at the federal  level. This year’s Congressional Caucus event gave advocates opportunities for hands-on experience and direct access to fellow advocates and influence experts to be ready to  engage Congress with clarity and purpose.

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Calibrating the movement is critical for seeing pro-credit union backed legislation become law and we have already identified key pieces in the works right now.

During the August recess, after months of work from America’s Credit Unions and credit union advocates, Reps. Janelle Bynum and Young Kim introduced the Credit Union  Investment Authority Act. This bill would update the antiquated laws that currently limit the  investment options for federal credit unions. Along with previously introduced legislation in the House and Senate to provide longer maturities on credit union loans, advocates on the Hill are focused on pushing lawmakers to modernize the Federal Credit Union Act as it is key for credit unions to be able to stay competitive in the financial marketplace.

The collaboration with Congress to drive more modernization and innovation for credit  unions does not stop there. CTRs and SARs thresholds are long outdated and have even  longer burdened credit unions with excessive reporting on regular, non-criminal activity.  Our advocates are articulating these concerns to lawmakers and are working to see relief by pushing legislative and regulatory changes.

Credit union advocacy is year-round because the stakes for more than 146 million  Americans are too important to be anything less. Credit unions have proven their strength as trusted financial partners, economic engines in their communities, and a powerful collective voice for the people they serve.

As we enter this critical final stretch of the 119th Congress, we have an opportunity to  leverage that strength and the progress we’ve made together. By protecting and  empowering credit unions, policymakers can ensure they continue opening doors to  financial opportunity, strengthening communities, and helping millions of Americans  achieve the financial freedom that makes the American Dream possible.