Senator renews push to advance ICBA-opposed credit card routing bill

ICBA is calling on community bankers to voice strong opposition to renewed efforts by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to force Senate consideration of legislation to advance credit card routing restrictions.

State of Play: The lawmaker this week pledged to hold up consideration of unrelated appropriations bills focused on military construction, veterans affairs, and transportation if Senate leaders don’t commit to holding a vote on the ICBA-opposed Credit Card Competition Act (S. 1838/H.R. 3881), which Marshall is leading alongside Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.).

Previous NDAA Push: This week’s efforts echo the lawmakers’ previous attempts to use the National Defense Authorization Act to advance their bill, which would allow merchants to process credit card transactions based solely on which network offers the lowest cost for them.

Grassroots Campaign: While ICBA continues to fight the effort on Capitol Hill, it is calling on community bankers to use its Be Heard grassroots action center to urge their members of Congress—especially in the Senate—to oppose the legislation and any attempt to tie it to unrelated, must-pass government funding bills.

Ongoing Advocacy: ICBA has strongly opposed the Durbin-Marshall efforts throughout the current Congress, including via joint letters with state community banking associations and industry groups, its partnership with the Electronic Payments Coalition, and recent ICBA polling conducted by Morning Consult that found two-thirds of voters say requiring a change to credit card transaction technology is risky.