SBPA members outline opposition to Durbin-Marshall Bill during Judiciary hearing
Washington, DC – Small business owners from across the country submitted testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee today in opposition to the Durbin-Marshall credit card bill. The small business advocates – members of the Small Business Payments Alliance (SBPA) – encouraged opposition to the bill and called on Congress to protect small businesses from misguided mandates.
Selection from testimony provided by small business owners is below and the full testimonies are available on the SBPA website.
“As the Senate Judiciary examines the Durbin-Marshall bill, I want you to remember that the success of small businesses depends on a secure and reliable electronic payment system. Please stand with the small business community and keep the current credit card processing system intact.”
– Theresa Bostic, Owner of Kayla’s Italian Ice (Atlanta, GA)
“The safety, stability, and support that the current credit card framework provides are foundational to my business’s success. The CCCA is a misguided proposal that would weaken small businesses at a time when we need support, not further obstacles. I urge Congress to reject the CCCA and focus on policies that truly promote growth, security, and resilience.”
– James Rivenbark, Owner of Jars Hospitality (South Carolina)
“Unfortunately, the proposed Credit Card Competition Act would make the credit card payment system less secure because it would require banks to expose cards to likely unsafe payment networks. This would put our customers at a higher risk of fraud and data breaches, and put our business and our reputation at risk. All it takes is one fraudulent transaction for us to lose a customer’s business.”
– Ken Katz, Owner of Buenos Dias Café (Atlanta, GA)
“Small businesses cannot afford legislation that disrupts the systems we rely on and undermines our ability to operate effectively. I call on Congress to reject the CCCA and protect the efficiency and security of the current credit card payment system that is so crucial to businesses like mine.”
– Erwin Mosqueda, Owner of Top Gun M.O.T. Design Services (Miami, FL)
“The CCCA could have severe consequences for small businesses like mine that rely on secure, dependable, and rewarding payment processing. I respectfully ask you to consider the impact this legislation would have on the small businesses that are the backbone of our economy.”
– TJ Tillman, Level 1 Arcade Bar & Outcast Doughnuts (Arizona)
“The security and reliability of the current credit card processing network is invaluable to us. As a small business, we trust the robust security measures, which help protect us from fraudulent transactions and give our customers peace of mind. The proposed legislation, however, would force businesses like ours to process payments through untested, potentially insecure networks that lack these protections. This would jeopardize not only our financial security but also the trust we’ve worked hard to build with our customers.”
– Michael & Susan Martin, Owners of Austin Wood Recycling (Austin, TX)
“The CCCA threatens to eliminate these rewards, which would be a serious setback to our ability to support our employees, manage expenses, and keep our bottom line healthy. Big-box retailers have the resources to negotiate with payment networks and select options that benefit them, but small businesses don’t have this leverage. We can’t afford to lose the benefits we depend on.”
– Molly Ashton, Crumbl Cookies Franchise Owner (Arizona)
“Credit card rewards directly support my business, helping me cover expenses, support my employees, and sustain growth. The existing payment framework is safe, efficient, and vital to small businesses, and Congress must prioritize protecting it.”
– Ashley Nordman, Owner of AN Skin & Beauty (O’Fallon, MO)
“Small businesses like mine cannot afford policies that will drain our resources. We need legislation that protects the resources we need to succeed, not policies that will stifle our growth and put our finances at risk.”
– Chris Merritt, Owner of Merritt Roofing (South Carolina)
“If the CCCA is enacted, it would disrupt this secure system, introducing less-reliable payment networks that increase our risk of fraud and data breaches. A single fraudulent transaction could cost us more than just money— it could mean the loss of a valued customer’s trust and future business.”
– Edy Massih, Owner of Edy’s Grocer (Brooklyn, NY)
“Access to credit was critical in our early days. Like many minority-owned businesses, we faced challenges securing traditional loans. Credit cards became our lifeline, helping us purchase equipment, manage cash flow, and reinvest profits. Flexible payment terms and rewards programs were essential, particularly during the pandemic, when we pivoted to online sales and relied on electronic payments to sustain operations.”
– Daniel Maloney, Co-Owner of Sol Cacao (Bronx, NY)
The Durbin-Marshall credit card bill was introduced last year in Congress as the “Credit Card Competition Act” (CCCA). The proposed legislation is a direct threat to the electronic payments and rewards system and would have a major negative impact on small business owners who use credit cards and rewards to run their businesses. Despite its name, the legislation would circumvent the competitive market and put small businesses at a further competitive disadvantage with a new government routing mandate that would dictate processing networks, without regard to security or quality.
A recent study showed that the Durbin-Marshall credit card bill would disproportionately benefit the top five businesses in the U.S. and put “small retailers at a further competitive disadvantage.” The legislation would also cost “small businesses over $1 billion in lost rewards as well as a decline in access to credit.”