Pub. 11 2020 Issue 2

www.wvbankers.org 32 West Virginia Banker T he COVID-19 crisis highlights how im- portant our elected officials are to our daily life. In a matter of weeks, leaders and policymakers quickly made decisions on an array of issues, from social distancing to the new spending of more than $2 trillion. Congress called on you, as a banker, to quickly implement a brand-new $600 billion program to help small businesses in your community pay their employees. Although that request was unexpected, bankers have always dealt with an enormous volume of legal and regulatory requirements. You have seen the importance of good regulations, as well as the impact of reg- ulations that, although well-intended, produce unexpected and sometimes harmful results. That means you must add policy risk to the many other risks your institution already manages. Members of Congress constantly hear from groups seeking support for their particular is- sues, including WVBankers and banking associa- tions across the country. But is that enough? How can you further support their hard work? Members of Congress are more responsive to their constituents, the people who live and work in the districts they represent than to people who are not their constituents. They are most responsive, however, to constituents they per- sonally know. Banking‘s uniquely important role in the economic well-being and growth of any community makes you, as a banking profes- sional, a vital resource in informing members of Congress and their staffs on the impact of decisions in their districts. This is likely part of the reason that Congress turned to banks to help supply liquidity to small businesses during this crisis. When was the last time you met with your mem- ber of Congress? Do they know you by name? Do congressional staffers call your organization seeking your expert opinion? If this sounds impossible, it’s not! Members of Congress need your help. They want to know By Allison Karakis, FHLBank Pittsburgh Make Time for Your Member of Congress