NAAHL is committed to providing an effective voice for community investment practitioners in the public policy arena. NAAHL made a number of significant contributions bringing private capital to those in need. They include:

• Achieved bipartisan support for a 50% increase in the statutory cap on banks' “Public Welfare Investments” . NAAHL worked with LISC and the OCC to increase the cap from 10% of bank capital to 15%, which the OCC estimates could result in more than $30 billion in additional investment by national banks for affordable housing and community development
• After 2 years of continuous advocacy, contributed to the OTS decision to announce its intention to conform its CRA rules with the other 3 regulators, recognizing the importance of thrifts' Community Development investments and services
• With LISC, one of only two organizations asked to testify before the House Government Reform Committee about CRA's impact on LMI communities
• Persuaded all the bank regulators to recognize the unprecedented nature of the Katrina/Rita disaster with favorable consideration of any insured institution's support for all disaster relief and recovery efforts (assuming a Satisfactory rating in its own assessment areas)
• Worked with the regulators to ensure that CRA investments are not adversely affected by risk-based capital rules
• Worked to resolve anomalous outcomes of CRA exams that chill bank CD loans and investments
• Persuaded banking regulators to include NAAHL's longstanding proposal for a Community Development Test for mid-tier banks in CRA rule changes announced by the FDIC, OCC and the Federal Reserve Board
• Developed legislative proposals adopted by House of Representatives on reforming GSE affordable housing goals, and worked with Senators and staff to incorporate similar reforms
• Testified at the House Housing Roundtable and subsequent House hearing on legislative and regulatory changes to facilitate Katrina relief and recovery, one of 6 trade associations invited to participate in the FEMA/HUD Joint Housing Solutions Task Force
• Persuaded House of Representatives to adopt enact a 50% increase in statutory cap on banks' public welfare investments
• Worked with both parties on both sides of the aisle to persuade the new OTS director to rescind regulations unilaterally gutting CRA requirements for thrifts
• Worked with Congressional staff and affordable housing advocates on reforms of the Housing Choice Voucher program, participating in industry summit in Seattle, and testifying at the House Housing Roundtable
• Publishing second report on Practical Solutions to Predatory Lending
• Initiated study of non-bank consortia partially funded by Rockefeller Foundation