NACS is asking its members and any business that accepts credit cards to contact their U.S. Senators and urge them to support the Marshall-Durbin Amendment, which was filed on Tuesday by U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), lead sponsors of the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA).
This Marshall-Durbin Amendment is the Credit Card Competition Act, which would create choice for the processing of credit card transactions by requiring the largest U.S. banks that issue Visa or Mastercard credit cards to allow transactions to be processed over at least two unaffiliated card payment networks—the same process that has been used for debit card transactions for more than a decade.
Sens. Marshall and Durbin offered their Amendment to be added to a larger GENIUS Act, a cryptocurrency bill NACS also endorses. If the Senate approves the Marshall-Durbin Amendment and includes it in the GENIUS Act, the Senate could vote on the full bill after the Memorial Day recess.
“A Senate vote on the Amendment could come as early as Friday, May 23, and this 20-plus-year battle for credit card reform could be decided by which industry best showcases its grassroots voice on the issue. Our industry engagement could be the difference in whether we finally get relief from outrageous swipe fees,” said NACS Senior Vice President of Government Relations Lyle Beckwith.
The Marshall-Durbin Amendment is supported by almost 2,000 companies and nearly 300 trade associations as well as a broad group of consumer, labor and pro-competition organizations.
Credit and debit card swipe fees—which have increased 70% since 2020 and reached a record $187.2 billion in 2024—are convenience retailers’ 2nd highest operating expense after wages and benefits. The fees are far too high to absorb, especially for smaller, family-run businesses, and cost the average U.S. family nearly $1,200 a year.
“It is time for Congress to deal with the hidden credit card fees driving up the prices of nearly everything we buy,” said NACS General Counsel Doug Kantor, who also serves as an executive committee member of the Merchants Payments Coalition. “Credit card companies are now even putting swipe fees on top of tariffs and pushing up prices even more. The Senate needs to approve the Marshall-Durbin Amendment to give Main Street and their customers a fighting chance against out-of-control fees.”
NACS is calling on all industry advocates to contact their U.S. Senators now and urge them to support the Marshall-Durbin Amendment.
“The credit card industry has spent more than $100 million to block this legislation. Contact your Senators today and let them know how your business is affected by skyrocketing credit card swipe fees. Your voice will make all the difference,” said Beckwith.