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SBPA Brings Voice of Main Street Small Business to Capitol Hill

sbpastg on September 23, 2026

Tenth Washington Fly-In Follows SBPA Panel at CHCI Leadership Conference Highlighting Importance of Electronic Payments for Entrepreneurs

Washington, DC — Members of the Small Business Payments Alliance (SBPA) returned to Capitol Hill this week for the organization’s 10th Washington fly-in, marking a major milestone in its effort to ensure that small business owners have a voice in debates over the future of the electronic payments system. The visit comes on the heels of SBPA’s participation in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 2026 Leadership Conference, where small business owners and policy leaders discussed how electronic payments help entrepreneurs reach customers, manage their businesses, and pursue new opportunities for growth – and the potential impact of federal and state credit card mandates on small businesses. 

Ten fly-ins represent hundreds of conversations with lawmakers, providing an opportunity for members of Congress to hear directly from the small business owners who actually use the electronic payments system every day. Throughout these meetings, small business owners are delivering a consistent message: credit cards help small businesses manage cash flow, reach more customers, and grow their businesses. Congress should listen to these Main Street entrepreneurs and reject federal credit card mandates like Durbin-Marshall.

At last week’s CHCI Leadership Conference, SBPA members Maritza and Malki Higuera, owners of M&M Family Orchard in Arizona, joined Arizona State Representative Alma Hernandez and Nicole Duerler-Montant of the Latino Economic Development Center for a discussion moderated by Telemundo’s Alberto Pimienta and opened by Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA). The panel focused on how the global electronic payments system can expand customer access and economic opportunity for Main Street businesses, while examining concerns about how the Durbin-Marshall credit card mandates and state-level interchange proposals could affect Latino entrepreneurship. The discussion built on SBPA’s broader advocacy on behalf of small businesses, including the effort to protect the security and convenience of the existing electronic payments system.

Small businesses see firsthand that accepting credit cards isn’t a cost — it’s an investment. A recent study detailed that small businesses see a 121% return on investment from credit cards, with an average of $26,000 in annual benefits through higher sales, security, and customer convenience. The Durbin-Marshall credit card mandates would undermine those gains, inject risk into the payments system, and ultimately make it harder for small businesses to compete and grow.

A copy of the full report can be found here.

Small Business Owners Applaud Governor Polis’ Veto

sbpastg on June 3, 2026

Colorado members of the Small Business Payments Alliance (SBPA) applauded Governor Jared Polis’ decision to veto legislation that would have caused chaos for small businesses across Colorado. Small business owners across the state have mobilized against the bill, SB 26-134, based on concerns about its impact on local businesses that depend on credit cards and credit card rewards.

SBPA SMALL BUSINESS REPORT: CREDIT CARD REWARDS 

sbpastg on October 22, 2025

Small businesses across the country are increasingly leveraging credit card rewards as a strategic tool to stretch budgets, manage cash flow, and reinvest in growth. From cashback on everyday purchases to travel points and discounts on essential services, credit card rewards programs have evolved beyond consumer perks into valuable business resources.

Proposed credit card mandates would harm Maine’s small businesses | Opinion

sbpastg on October 15, 2025

Running a coffeehouse may look simple from the outside, but anyone who has stood behindthe counter knows how complex it really is. At Coffee By Design, we’re not just making coffee. We’re managing a nonstop flow of customers on their way to work, parents juggling kids, students racing to class and visitors passing through Portland.

OPINION: Don’t let Congress disrupt the tools small businesses rely on

sbpastg on July 29, 2025

When I opened Burque Throwdown just south of Downtown Albuquerque, I didn’t simply want to build a business — I wanted to build community. That’s why at our pottery school and studio, we welcome people from all over to slow down, get their hands dirty and create something beautiful in clay. Located between Downtown and the historic Barelas neighborhood, the studio has become more than just a place to create and learn. It’s become a gathering space — a place to make friends, unwind and feel a sense of connection.

Opinion | Credit card proposal would hurt small businesses, consumers

sbpastg on July 16, 2025

A few years ago, I took the leap and started Asche Woodworking here in Wisconsin,
turning my passion for crafting custom furniture and cabinetry into a small business.
Like many entrepreneurs, I've learned that success depends on adapting to how
customers want to do business. In this day and age, that means accepting credit card
payments.

Credit card mandates would hinder small business owners

sbpastg on June 27, 2025

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.