Added to the already great slate of speakers and legislators for the 2012 CUNA GAC in March are House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Assistant House Democratic Leader James Clyburn (D-SC).

McCarthy, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and spoke at last year's GAC. Clyburn called himself a long-time member of the credit union movement at last year's GAC, and the nine-term congressman has been a frequent GAC guest.

Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who championed credit union concerns on debit interchange fee cap legislation, and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who is a current co-sponsor of S. 509, which would increase the credit union member business lending cap, have also signed on as speakers. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), who is a senior member of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, is the current Republican Committee chair, and served as Republican Conference chair of last year's Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, is scheduled to speak as well.

Reps. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), will also speak at the 2012 GAC. These legislators will join former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; premier, non-partisan political analyst Charlie Cook; journalistic duo Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein; and others on the 2012 GAC speaker schedule.

The GAC, which takes place March 18-22 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., provides more than 4,000 credit union executives and board members an opportunity to hear influential leaders from Congress, the Obama administration, and the federal regulatory agencies, and discuss pressing credit union issues with their respective members of Congress and staff during Capitol Hill meetings.

Recognized as the key conference to attend for political impact, credit union networking and industry updates, the GAC also offers a wide array of educational breakout sessions, the industry's largest exhibitor showcase, guest/family programs to tour Washington's sights, and special entertainment including an opening concert and the closing Gala Reception and Dance. And this year, the whole event will be kicked off by American Idol star Taylor Hicks, who will perform at the opening concert, sponsored by the CUNA Councils.

Additional speakers and session topics will be announced in the weeks to come.

Registration, housing, and other information can be found by clicking here.

Story courtesy of CUNA News Now