The KBA Board of Directors, members of the KBA Federal Affairs Committee and the 2024 KBA Bank Leaders of Kansas (BLOK) spent several days last week in the nation’s capital to lobby Kansas’ members of Congress and to visit with Federal banking regulators about issues of importance to the banking industry.
The BLOK class started their visit with a guided night tour of Washington, D.C.’s memorials and monuments on Sunday evening, Sept. 15. Morning sessions began on Monday, Sept. 16, with an ABA 101 at the American Bankers Association’s new office and a panel with two of Kansas’ Congressional Chiefs of Staff. On Tuesday, Sept. 17, the entire group resumed meetings at the ABA office, having a dialogue with the FDIC, the OCC and the CFPB on regulatory priorities, including Section 1071 compliance, CRA modernization, credit card late fees, overdraft and NSF fees and modernizing deposit insurance. Bankers also heard a Farm Bill briefing from ABA staff and learned more about the new tax plan that is being drafted for whoever is the next president. On Wednesday, Sept. 18, a group of almost 60 bankers visited Capitol Hill to talk about the ACRE Act, the Farm Bill, the Credit Card Competition Act, the potential repeal of Section 1071 Small Business Reporting, and prohibiting selling mortgage trigger leads, among other issues. The trip concluded with an evening reception at the ABA Rooftop open to all Kansas Congressional Delegation members and their staff. The following are highlights from the trip.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran
Kansas bankers met with Senator Jerry Moran in the Senate Appropriations Committee Room to express their thanks to the senator for his continued support of ACRE! They also discussed his efforts to repeal overreaching CFPB regulations, and his continued work on the development of a Farm Bill that addresses the financial conditions in the agricultural sector.
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall
Senator Roger Marshall’s banking liaison, Bill Birsic, and Legislative Director Taylor LaJoie met with the group to discuss issues, including Farm Bill priorities and ag conditions in the state. Kansas bankers thanked him for his continued support of ACRE and encouraged him to co-sponsor a bill to prohibit selling mortgage trigger leads and a bill to reduce the impact of the CFPB’s 1071 Small Business reporting rule.
U.S. Representative Tracey Mann
Kansas bankers met with U.S. Representative Tracey Mann and thanked him for his continued support of our many priority issues such as the ACRE Act, prohibit selling mortgage trigger leads, and promoting a study on Reg II’s cap on debit card interchange fees. Also discussed were the Farm Bill, ag conditions in the state, and overreaching CFPB regulations.
U.S. Representative Jake LaTurner
Kansas bankers had the opportunity to meet with Congressman Jake LaTurner. As Congressman LaTurner prepares to retire at the end of this year, we would like to thank him and his family for their dedicated years of service. Beginning with his tenure in the Kansas Senate and continuing through his time in the U.S. House, Jake has consistently advocated for individual Kansans and the Kansas banking industry. His unwavering support will be missed, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
U.S. Representative Ron Estes
Representative Ron Estes met with Kansas banker constituents from the 4th Congressional District. With his role on the Ways and Means Committee, he was able to give a first-hand update on the tax discussion happening in D.C. Kansas bankers also thanked Estes for his continued support of ACRE and discussed overreaching CFPB regulations, such as the 1071 Small Business Loan Reporting rule and the UDAAP rule as applied by the CFPB, and the need to prohibit selling mortgage trigger leads.
U.S. Representative Sharice Davids
Kansas bankers from the 3rd Congressional District met with Representative Sharice Davids to discuss some of the KBA’s legislative priorities. With her role on the Agriculture Committee, the group discussed the Farm Bill, Kansas ag conditions and encouraged her to support the ACRE act. We also thanked her for continued support of the SAFE Banking Act.
Briefing at ABA’s Headquarters
The KBA Board of Directors, Federal Affairs Committee, and 2024 BLOK Class began their Monday meetings in Washington, D.C., with a meeting with the American Bankers Association Congressional Relations team. This meeting was focused on discussing legislative and regulatory priorities within the banking industry. The group’s discussions helped prepare them for meetings on Capitol Hill and with bank regulators. This collaborative effort demonstrates the commitment of these key stakeholders to advocating for the interests of the banking industry and ensuring that their voices are heard in the policymaking process.
ABA EVP — Congressional Relations Kirsten Sutton
Kirsten Sutton (left), EVP of Congressional Relations at the American Bankers Association, participated in a briefing session with the group before our regulatory and legislative visits. During the session, Sutton discussed the industry’s priorities and provided guidance on advocating directly and effectively telling their story to policymakers in Washington, D.C.
ABA Tax Policy
ABA tax policy experts gave the KBA an update on tax cuts and increases being discussed on the hill. With 2024 being an election year, taxes are a hot topic, and there will be a new tax plan for the next president. We must continue to remind our legislators that a tax increase on banks is a tax increase on our customers.
ABA Credit Unions
With tax policy up for discussion, the ABA and KBA are asking for the Financial Services Committee to hold a hearing to review the credit union federal tax exemption, and the fact that many large credit unions have exceeded their initial mission of serving disadvantaged communities.
ABA Credit Card Policy Council
ABA updated the group on debit and credit card issues, including ongoing opposition of the Credit Card Competition Act and new Reg II proposed caps on interchange fees.
FDIC Board Vice Chairman Travis Hill
Travis Hill, Vice Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Board of Directors met with the KBA at the FDIC headquarters to discuss various topics, including brokered deposits, Basel III and modernizing the FDIC deposit insurance fund. During the meeting, Vice Chairman Hill provided valuable insights into the composition of the board and the length of terms and shared details about his career path that led to the FDIC.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
The KBA met with representatives from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to discuss various topics, including 1071, small business lending reporting, credit card late fees, and overdraft and NSF fees. Kansas bankers emphasized the negative effects these regulations can have on our customers and the communities we serve.
Congressional Chiefs of Staff Panel
The 2024 BLOK Class was joined by U.S. Senator Moran’s Chief of Staff, James Kelly, and Congressman Jake LaTurner’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Jake Middlebrooks, for a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a Chief of Staff on Capitol Hill. The panel, moderated by KBA’s President & CEO Doug Wareham and sponsored by FHLBank Topeka’s Jeff Steiner, discussed industry engagement with elected officials, balancing campaign and official duties, and Congress’ priorities for the year.
2024 Bank Leaders of Kansas Class
The 2024 Bank Leaders of Kansas class gathered at the FDIC Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
