WASHINGTON—House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced Friday that he will resign from Congress at the end of October.
NAFCU and CUNA shared their respect for Boehner and thanked him for his support of CUs as he held one of the most powerful positions in U.S. government. The surprising decision comes at a time when Congress is moving to avert a government shutdown.
“NAFCU appreciates House Speaker John Boehner’s dedication to public service and all that he has done to forward the interests of credit unions,” said NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger. “We wish him well in his retirement.”
CUNA President and CEO Jim Nussle recalled working with Boehner when Nussle served in Congress.
“My good friend, House Speaker John Boehner announced his resignation from Congress this morning. The Speaker and I were both elected to Congress in 1990. We served in the leadership together and both of us became full committee chairmen in 2000,” said Nussle. “I am proud of what we accomplished together. His firm leadership and remarkable ability to bring people together to do great things is unmatched. Time and again, when others said things were impossible, the Speaker made them happen. His service to his constituents and the nation will be missed."
Boehner, 65, was working on developing a solution to keep the government open through the rest of the year. Sources indicate that Boehner’s surprising announcement will lessen the chance of a government shutdown as Republican leaders in Congress will push for a short-term funding measure to keep the government operating and the speaker will no longer be deterred by those who threatened his job.