ALEXANDRIA, Va.– The U.S. Senate by a vote of 59 to 40 gas confirmed NCUA Chairman Todd M. Harper to a new term on the board that is to expire April 10, 2027.
Separately in Washington, two trade groups are advocating for a bill that would support military entrepreneurs.
Harper’s confirmation is a reappointment and he will continue to serve as Chairman. He was initially confirmed to fill out a partial term on the NCUA Bboard by the Senate on March 14, 2019, filling the vacancy created when former Chairman Debbie Matz retired in 2016. That term ended in April 2021.
“I am grateful to President Biden for nominating me to serve a full term on the NCUA’s Board and humbled by today’s bipartisan confirmation vote,” Harper said. “In the years ahead, my focus will remain on credit union members, the system’s resiliency and strength, and the NCUA’s readiness to respond to an evolving economic environment, credit union system, and financial services marketplace. Consistent with the law, I will also continue prioritizing capital and liquidity, cybersecurity, consumer financial protection, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“It is an honor to continue working with my fellow NCUA Board members — Kyle Hauptman and Rodney Hood — and the dedicated team of professionals at the NCUA,” Harper continued. . “I want to especially thank those who voted for me, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for moving my nomination, as well as my parents, Ronald and Christine Small, my long-time partner, Tom Beers, and my many mentors, including former Congressmen Paul Kanjorski and Ed Royce.”
Prior to joining the NCUA Board, Chairman Harper served as director of the agency’s Office of Public and Congressional Affairs and chief policy advisor to former Chairmen Debbie Matz and Rick Metsger. He is the first member of the NCUA’s staff to become an NCUA board member and chair. He is also the first member of the LGBTQ+ community to lead a financial services regulatory agency, and he recently shared his perspective on that issue here.
Harper previously worked for the U.S. House of Representatives as staff director for the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises and as legislative director and senior legislative assistant to former Rep. Kanjorski (D-PA). In these roles, he contributed to every major financial services law, from the enactment of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act in 1999 through the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010, noted NCUA.
Harper holds an undergraduate degree in business analysis from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and a graduate degree in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
CUNA Comment
“Congratulations to Chairman Harper on his re-confirmation to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) board. We look forward to continuing to engage him and the other NCUA board members to ensure that the agency stays focused on its safety and soundness mission,” said CUNA President and CEO Jim Nussle.
DCUC Congratulates Harper
“The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) is very happy to see the honorable Todd Harper confirmed in the Senate," said DCUC President and CEO Anthony Hernandez. "The chairman is always willing to listen to our member’s concerns and has shown support for our nation’s men and women in uniform. We look forward to continuing working with the chairman and the NCUA in support of our member credit unions in serving their members.”
NAFCU Praises Confirmation
“Under Chairman Harper's leadership, the NCUA can truly accelerate credit unions’ growth and better the way they serve their 130 million members. NAFCU congratulates Todd Harper on his confirmation to continue serving as NCUA Chairman. We have, and will continue to, work with the NCUA and its leaders to push for meaningful regulatory change and engage in ways credit unions can grow and innovate," said NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger.
NAFCU, DCUC Urge Congress to Move on Bill
Separately, NAFCU joined with the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) in a letter to House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Rep. Nydia Velázquez (R-NY) and Ranking Member Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-M) prior to the committee’s hearing, “Military to Main Street: Serving Veteran Entrepreneurship.”
“Credit unions are an important resource for our nation’s veterans in their small business and entrepreneurial endeavors,” wrote NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger and Hernandez. “Service members develop broad expertise across many disciplines while in the military, learning skills that can provide tremendous value to the economy. After great personal sacrifice, these Americans deserve every opportunity for success in their transition back to civilian life.”
Berger and Hernandez said there are ways that Congress can help veterans, including supporting legislation that would help provide relief to barriers that stand in the way of veterans’ ability to access credit for small businesses.
Both Berger and Hernandez also participated in a webinar that covered various legislative and policy initiatives that protect veteran members, including the Building Credit Access for Veterans Act, the Veterans Member Business Loan Act, and the National Defense Authorization Act.
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