WASHINGTON–Former Rep. Steve LaTourette, who became a hero to credit unions for his co-sponsorship of HR 1151, the Credit Union Membership Access Act, has died. Mr. LaTourette, 62, had been fighting pancreatic cancer.
In 1997 LaTourette, a Republican from Northern Ohio, joined with Rep. Paul Kanjorski, a Pennsylvania Democrat, to co-sponsor HR 1151, at a time when credit unions’ backs were against the wall after having lost a Supreme Court ruling over the issue of field of membership. LaTourette and Kanjorski backed the bill and pushed it through Congress despite significant opposition from bank groups both nationally and in their home states. Both also earned significant backing from credit unions in their home states.
In that case, originally filed against the then AT&T Family FCU (now Truliant) by bankers in North Carolina, courts had ruled the Federal Credit Union Act of 1934 limited CUs to serving one “group” of members, such as a single SEG or a limited community.
HR 1151, which expanded the definition of credit union fields of membership, paved the way for the broad charters in place at many CUs today. It passed the House by an overwhelming margin, as did a companion bill in the Senate. The CUMAA was signed into law by President Clinton in August of 1998 in an Oval Office ceremony.
“Here’s all you need to know about Congressman Steve LaTourette: During the hottest part of the fight to pass HR 1151, another House Republican told me that ‘LaTourette was the only guy up here who could talk to Newt Gingrich and Barney Frank and not end up in a shouting match'," said John McKechnie, who was part of CUNA advocacy team in Washington during the fight to get the legislation passed. "That explains a lot about why he was so instrumental in our efforts to pass HR 1151. A very decent, honorable and capable lawmaker, and one who credit union people everywhere should thank for the work he did.”
While in Congress LaTourette represented northeast Ohio's 19th Congressional District and then the 14th Congressional District from 1995 to 2013. Prior to that LaTourette served as Lake County prosecutor from 1989 to 1995.
LaTourette left Congress, saying he was tired of the growing partisanship.
“All of us in the House will miss our friend and colleague, Steve LaTourette. Nobody could match his fierce sense of duty— or his great sense of humor,” House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) said in a statement Wednesday night.
NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger said the trade association was "saddened" by the passing of LaTourette. "He was a valued friend of credit unions and a vocal champion in the fight to ensure consumers’ ability to choose where they will obtain financial services. NAFCU remains grateful to him for his leadership and support on credit union issues, particularly as a chief sponsor of the 1998 Credit Union Membership Access Act. Our thoughts are with his family."
CUNA President and CEO Jim Nussle said that credit unions are "forced to say goodbye to a true friend. The credit union world--CUNA most certainly included--will never forget the bold role Steve took to preserve consumers' access to financial choice. By co-sponsoring the landmark 1998 Credit Union Membership Access Act (H.R. 1151), he acted to preserve the right of consumers to join credit unions, essentially overturning a Supreme Court decision on the matter. Steve's leadership was key to the success of that momentous fight, and it illustrates just one time of many when he fought the good fight for credit union priorities. The credit union community extends its deepest sympathy to the congressman's family and friends and to all those who mourn his passing."