WASHINGTON—Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) believes Washington can learn from credit unions how to break the gridlock on Capitol Hill.
“You create jobs, you move communities forward,” Sinema told attendees at CUNA’s GAC. “Credit unions’ people helping people philosophy is something Washington could benefit from.”
Saying credit unions help Americans’ build better lives, Sinema emphasized Congress needs to find more ways to reduce the regulatory burden on credit unions so they can serve more people.
Sinema said she is well aware many Americans are in dire need of financial assistance and face hardships daily, and that a helping hand at a critical time in their lives can make a big difference in the futures of many.
Sinema shared her own story of being in elementary school when her family faced financial hardships.
“My father lost his job, and then the family eventually lost our car,” she recalled. “I remember seeing our orange El Camino being taken away.”
Her family eventually lost their home. “We were homeless for three years, at times living in an abandoned gas station with no electricity, no running water and often nothing to eat,” she said. “Those we difficult times.”
But her family eventually got assistance from friends and a local church.
“That’s what it takes sometimes, people just need a helping hand,” said Sinema, pointing to how credit unions across the nation provided special assistance to furloughed workers during the recent partial government shutdown.
“During the irresponsible government shutdown, you stepped up to help millions of Americans, some who could not put food on the table through no fault of their own,” she said. “That is the kind of leadership we could use more of in D.C.”