Independent Banker - April 2024 - 37

Capital Summit, you can ensure your
voice and the industry's collective
voice are heard.
Making the ask on Capitol Hill
The highlight of the event are Hill
visits where community bankers
meet with senators, congressional
representatives and their staff
members. ICBA works with its
affi liated state associations to
coordinate these meetings and
provide community bankers with
the tools to make the most of this
advocacy opportunity.
Whether it's your fi rst introduction
or reinforcing an existing relationship
with elected offi cials, visiting Capitol
Hill is how you demonstrate the
importance of the community bank
mission and make it clear that you
and your fellow community bankers
are prepared to show up in a big
way, just as you do every day for
your customers.
Advocacy isn't just talking policy;
it's storytelling. It's demonstrating
the real-world impact of potential
legislation with stories, statistics and
anecdotes about community banks
and the daily lives of their customers.
These Capitol Hill visits provide
you the platform to illustrate how
proposed bills that limit consumer
choice, increase consumer costs or
create onerous hurdles for borrowers
aff ect the people and communities
you serve.
Preparation is everything
The ICBA Capital Summit is designed
to prepare community bankers for
these visits. Through workshops,
panel discussions and expert-led
sessions, attendees gain valuable
insights into legislative proposals,
regulatory developments and industry
trends. There is even a special
session for fi rst-time attendees to
get a better understanding of what
to expect during a meeting with
congressional representatives.
Armed with this knowledge,
attendees are better equipped
to articulate their priorities and
eff ectively advocate for policies that
ensure community banks fl ourish.
ICBA's experts will help prepare you
to speak about economic policy and
legislation in a way that hits home to
legislators and their staff .
One key lesson is " making the
ask. " Every visit should culminate
in asking a congressperson's offi ce
to act, whether it's sponsoring,
cosponsoring or voting for a bill,
and the preferred timeframe. A
visit without an ask is just a visit.
A visit with an ask helps move the
community bank agenda forward.
If it will be your fi rst time-or
you would like a refresher-you can
attend our First Timers breakout
session, which will have an overview
of our asks and provide you the
chance to practice a meeting with
your peers.
The issues on the docket this year
This year's agenda will include
critical issues and bills such as:
 The Close the Shadow Banking
Loophole Act (S. 3538),
which would subject companies
that acquire an industrial loan
company to the same consolidated
supervision by the Federal Reserve
as any other bank holding company.
 The Homebuyers Privacy
Protection Act (H.R. 7297/S.
3502), which would address
" trigger leads " by restricting
credit reporting agencies from
selling consumers' contact
information when they apply for a
residential mortgage.
 The Credit Card Competition
Act (S. 1838/H.R. 3881), which
would extend routing restrictions to
credit card transactions.
 The Access to Credit for our
Rural Economy (ACRE) Act
(H.R. 3139/S. 2371), which would
make interest income on farm real
estate and rural mortgage loans
tax-exempt.
Join us in Washington
There has never been a more critical
time for community bankers to
advocate for their industry. The
ICBA Capital Summit is your chance
to stand united in your mission
to promote a vibrant, resilient
community banking industry
that fosters economic growth and
prosperity for all.
When community bankers come
together for advocacy, it amplifi es
their voices and reminds legislators
and policymakers that community
bankers are an important force
for good.
Learn more
and register
You'll find information on
the agenda, speakers and
how to register at icba.org/
capitalsummit
Don't miss your chance to add to
the chorus. Register for the ICBA
2024 Capital Summit and join your
peers from April 28 to May 1 as you
advocate for policies that will help
ensure community banks continue
to thrive.
John Coleman is assistant vice
president of advocacy for ICBA.
independentbanker.org // 37
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Independent Banker - April 2024

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