CCCA opponents, fans remain resolute

The Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) hit another roadblock, this time due to a winter storm and thunderous dissent among lobbyists and lawmakers. Introduced in 2023 by Sens. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the bipartisan bill continues to circulate through the halls of Congress, with supporters claiming it could lower merchant credit card fees and opponents warning it could dismantle consumer reward programs and security.

The bill, if passed, would require large card-issuing banks to offer additional transaction routing options to merchants, beyond Visa and Mastercard payment rails, ostensibly to lower costs and promote competition. Political and financial leaders have challenged these assumptions.

In a Nov. 18, 2024, letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the American Bankers Association, America's Credit Unions, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Bankers Association, Electronic Payments Coalition, Independent Community Bankers of America, Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America and National Bankers Association shared concerns about the proposed legislation.

"The Durbin-Marshall bill would expand the routing requirements imposed by the Durbin amendment to credit cards issued in the U.S.," they wrote. "This will open the door to fraud, hamper rewards programs, and limit the allocation of credit to individuals and small businesses. This is why small community banks and credit unions in all 50 states have voiced their opposition to the Durbin-Marshall bill."

Regulatory overreach

A Jan. 13, 2026, post on X.com by President Donald Trump praised the CCCA and condemned "out of control" credit card fees, prompting immediate responses from both the Senate and the House.

Later that day, CCCA sponsors Sens. Marshall and Durbin reintroduced the bill in the Senate; the following day, Reps. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, and Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif, cosponsored a companion bill in the House. 

In other business on Tues., Jan. 13, the Senate Agriculture Committee agreed to postpone a scheduled markup of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation in U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act), a crypto bill that Sen. Marshall had been eyeing with plans to attach CCCA as an amendment. Critics have noted that the GENIUS Act is focused on market structure and oversight and has no direct connection to credit card payments.

Scott Talbott, executive vice president of the Electronic Transactions Association pointed out that adding the unrelated CCCA provision would have impeded the crypto bill's progress. "CCCA was not germane to the underlying crypto bill," he said. "It represents government interference and disruption with private contracts and a highly competitive payments industry."

Talbott further noted that the CCCA remains a stand-alone proposal, at least for now, despite renewed attention and public support. He expects sponsors to continue to weigh next steps as Congress debates broader financial and technology policy priorities.

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