When new proposals that could affect how businesses manage operations and serve our customers come out of Washington, I pay close attention. One such proposal is the Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Mandates, also known as the Credit Card Competition Act.
As the proud owner of Appalachian Oddities, a small shop in the heart of Weston, I’ve built my business the way many small-town entrepreneurs have—through long hours, honest work, and, yes, access to credit. That’s why I’m deeply concerned about the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA), a bill being promoted under the guise of “lowering fees” but one that, in reality, threatens the financial foundation of small businesses and working families like mine.
New data from the Small Business Payments Alliance once again reaffirms the value of credit cards for small businesses. According to consumer surveys and research gathered over the first quarter of 2025, small businesses rely on credit cards to drive sales and expand growth. Small businesses also rely on electronic payments to protect against fraud and unlock e-commerce opportunities.
When I founded Assured Flooring & Countertops in Louisiana two decades ago, I never imagined how vital credit card rewards would become to our operations. Today, they’re a critical tool for managing our expenses and staying competitive.
Over many years in the trailer business, I’ve learned a lot by listening to my customers. I know how hard they work, and many rely on their credit card rewards to lower their expenses. When someone swipes their credit card to buy a trailer, it’s not because they’re chasing luxury; it’s because they know that their transaction will be secure, and they’ll earn credit card rewards that can make a real difference in their monthly budget.
Credit cards have become an essential tool for many small businesses. As the owner of a construction company in Iowa, I use them on a daily basis. With the cost of raw materials rising year after year, we’ve relied on our business credit cards to pay for them, allowing us to earn rewards and keep costs down. Every purchase adds up, and being able to earn rewards helps us stretch budgets further.
Whether it’s processing a recurring subscription payment, selling advertising space, or helping effectuate payments for partner promotions, our business depends on a reliable electronic payment system that protects both us and our customers from fraudulent actors. That system, which is used by millions of businesses nationwide, stopped $80 billion in fraud attempts in 2022 alone—ensuring that businesses like ours don’t have to absorb costly fraudulent charges or put our customers’ financial information at risk.
As small business owners in Philipsburg, Montana, we understand how tourism shapes our local economy. From skiers heading to Discovery Ski Area to summer visitors exploring Georgetown Lake, our small town thrives thanks to the steady flow of visitors who come to experience the natural beauty of our corner of Montana and many of the small businesses in our town rely on tourists to stay afloat.
Any given day, you can walk by the Crumbl and find a line of eager cookie eaters lining up out the door. Our cookies have become a teen sensation that Gen Z can’t seem to get enough of.
You know what Gen Z also can’t get enough of? Tapping to pay with their credit cards.
As the president of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, I know how much Florida’s small businesses contribute to our local economies. They are the coffee shops, souvenir shops, restaurants, boutiques and service providers that make our communities unique and vibrant.
