The California Credit Union League is thankful for another successful month of political events, solidifying its commitment to building strong relationships with legislators and promoting the credit union movement!
The League would like to thank Patelco CU for hosting a League event in support of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who proudly represents California’s 14th Congressional District. During the event, the congressman shared that he and his family are proud members of credit unions and appreciate the personalized service credit unions offer — not only to them, but to the community at large.
As a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Government Innovation (the parent is the Homeland Security Committee), Swalwell shared that he regularly hosts cybersecurity community workshops to help protect vulnerable organizations at the local level.
Swalwell is also the founder of Future Forum, a collection of congressional members who are Millennials or younger. Through his leadership, he has toured cities throughout the country to host discussions with Millennials and Gen Z about politics. He shared that student loan debt is one of the greatest barriers to banking for younger generations, noting that debt makes it harder for young people to buy a home.
Overall, Swalwell proved to understand issues unique to credit unions and has a deep understanding of the congressional district he represents.
At our next event, we had the pleasure of meeting with California Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R, Redlands to low-desert region) at Sun Community FCU in Indio, CA! Wallis, a credit union member, represents the 47th Assembly District, where he and his wife have served the community for more than a decade.
During the event, League and credit union leaders had a captivating conversation about several topics, including financial elder abuse and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the extreme need for affordable housing, and the impact of high living costs on Californians.
One topic that garnered significant attention was the need for financial education, especially for younger generations. Wallis was quite impressed to hear how credit unions have taken the initiative to tackle this issue through the Richard Myles Johnson Foundation’s “Bite of Reality” program. In fact, Sun Community FCU leaders first met Wallis’ wife during Shadow Hills High School’s “Bite of Reality,” as she serves as the school’s dance coach and Associated Student Body director.
All in all, it was inspiring to hear the countless ways in which local credit unions are stepping up to the plate to help address California’s challenges head-on. By partnering with elected officials, the Leagues and credit unions can make an even bigger impact on the lives of members in the community!
The League would like to thank the following credit unions who participated in these events: Patelco CU, 1st United CU, San Francisco Fire CU, SchoolsFirst FCU, Altura CU, and Sun Community CU. We could not do it without you!
Interested in attending or hosting a future event? Email Leagues Political Advocacy Manager Angelica Pappalardo.
