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COL. LEE LANGE
U.S. MARINE CORPS, RETIRED
Anthem, Arizona
COL. LEE LANGE COL. LEE LANGE

HE WORKS TO PROTECT SERVICEMEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES AGAINST PREDATORY LOANS.

By Kristin Davis
Photo by Mike Morones

After three decades in the Marine Corps, Lange joined the staff of MOAA, working on survivor issues as deputy director of Government Relations and later as director of Council and Chapter Affairs. It was in those positions that he learned about ongoing efforts protecting servicemembers against unscrupulous lending practices going on outside military bases around the country. When Lange retired to Arizona, he began working on veteran issues at the state level.

LATEST EFFORTS
Although an Arizona law allowing payday loans expired in 2010, lenders can still take advantage of people needing cash by charging up to 204% in interest on car title loans. While he continues to fight for the repeal of the law allowing high-interest car title loans, Lange is also working on a ballot initiative that, if successful, would cap interest rates for all loans in the state at 36%. This is in line with a federal law that protects active duty and reserve servicemembers but does not include veterans or their family members.

HOW HIS SERVICE SUPPORTS MOAA'S MISSION
Since 2017, Lange's efforts have helped prevent the financial industry from introducing new initiatives and products in Arizona that would skirt current rules against predatory loans, as car title loans have done. 

'There are a lot of lobbyists from the financial industry working against us. ... We are a thorn in their sides. We have stopped them from doing what they're doing so far. That's pretty satisfying.'

More from The ChangeMakers
MAJ. JAMIE BOSTON
MAJ. JAMIE BOSTON
U.S. ARMY, RETIRED
Kensington, Maryland
CAPT. KATHI DUGAN
CAPT. KATHI DUGAN
U.S. NAVY, RETIRED
Woodbridge, Virginia
FORMER MAJ. CARL S. SAVINO
FORMER MAJ. CARL S. SAVINO
U.S. ARMY RESERVE
Fairfax Station, Virginia

This material originally appeared in Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA PREMIUM and LIFE members.

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