ALEXANDRIA, Va.–Prior to putting to a vote a matter that was before the board, new NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood and Board Member Todd Harper used their first meeting as board members to address their priorities in the year ahead.
The meeting was the first since 2015 to include its full complement of three members, with the third board member being J. Mark McWatters, the agency’s former chairman.
Hood said he was honored to be nominated by President Trump as NCUA’s 11th chairman and said he looks forward to executing on the president’s pro-growth agenda while also protecting the safety and soundness of America’s credit unions.
Hood added that over his next four years as chairman he will ensure the NCUA team has the resources to respond “nimbly” to whatever is needed, and added he is looking forward to modernizing the FCU charter, addressing cyber security, expanding opportunities to serve underserved communities, and reducing regulatory burdens.
Policy, Not Politics
Board member Harper, who previously served as director of NCUA’s Office of Public and Congressional Affairs, said it is an “honor and a privilege” to be the first NCUA staff member to become a NCUA board member.
"I think we should also agree that it is the policy, not politics, that should guide our decisions," Harper said. "Congress established that NCUA is a bipartisan independent agency and gave the board members six-year terms in order to insulate the agency's decision-making process. That decision by Congress has served our nation and the credit union community well both in good times and in bad times. It will continue to do so in the future."
McWatters, who was recognized by Hood in his comments, added, “The only thing I would add is this is simply not a matter of I or me. We all know that. Whatever’s been accomplished in the last two years, and the nine months Rick Metsger was chair, happened because of a bipartisan, collegial effort. We allowed the best ideas to debate. Staff didn’t come to brief (board members) but to argue (their cases). And that’s the best way to do it. When you have principled arguments behind what we’re advocating, it’s very difficult not to achieve bipartisanship. I look forward to continuing along this path.”