News Release
Contact: Public Relations Coordinator
(800) 342-9835, ext. 8130New York Adds to List of CURIA Sponsors Following Hike
(October 4 - Latham, NY) – Hot on the heels of their "Hike the Hill," the New York State Credit Union League is happy to report that U.S. Representatives Peter T. King (R-Long Island) and John Hall have officially signed on to the 2007 CURIA bill (HR1537).
King, a returning 2006 CURIA co-sponsor, and Hall brings the count of New York representatives signing on as co-sponsors of the proposed CURIA legislation to 13.
The League, its board of directors, two credit union delegates and a representative from Members United Corporate FCU conducted their "Hike the Hill" visits September 26. Meetings with King and Hall were two of the 20 congressional visits made by the group that day.
"We were thrilled when at the end of our visit, Congressman King let us know that he would be signing on to CURIA 2007," said William J. Mellin, president/CEO of the League. "That our visits had an impact was further confirmed when we heard from Congressman Hall’s office that he was going to support the CURIA bill by signing on as a co-sponsor as well. We are hopeful that New York will soon see another representative add their ‘John Hancock’ to that list as a result of the recent meetings."
A longtime supporter of credit unions, King co-authored a letter that expressed his support of credit unions’ tax exempt status to Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) during the 2005 Ways and Means Committee hearing that explored the taxation of credit unions. It was signed by 44 members of Congress. He is also the recipient of the League’s 2006 Legislator of the Year award.
The League supported Hall through its PAC when he was running for a House seat in 2006. Upon his election, the League quickly reached out to establish a relationship and to show him how his constituents would benefit from the passage of the CURIA bill.
Participating in last week’s "Hike the Hill" were Laurie Baker, senior VP/COO, The Summit FCU; Marie Betti, CEO/treasurer, Western NY FCU; Tom Fallon, EVP, Teachers FCU; Al Frosolone, manager/CEO, Niagara’s Choice FCU; John C. Gibardi, president/CEO, Entertainment Industries FCU; Ann Hynes, president/CEO, St. Pius X Church FCU; Lou Jimenez, CEO/treasurer, Montauk CU; Vicky Matteson, manager, Jamestown Area Community FCU; Robert Nemeroff, marketing director, Melrose CU; John Prumo, president/CEO, GPO FCU; Bruno Sementilli, president/CEO, Quorum FCU; William Spearman, president/CEO, Mid-Hudson Valley FCU; Michael Tobler, manager/CEO, Albany Firemen’s FCU; and Dirck VanDeusen, senior VP, Members United Corporate FCU.
William J. Mellin, president/CEO and Michael Lanotte, SVP/general counsel represented the League.
The New York State Credit Union League (NYSCUL) has served as the trade association for the state’s credit unions for 90 years. It is the fifth largest league in the country. New York credit unions have assets of more than $39 billion and 4.2 million members. To learn more about the League, visit www.nyscul.org.
New York State Credit Union
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