FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

November 5, 2026  

RENSSELAER, N.Y. — With bipartisan sponsors Sen. Roger Marshall and Sen. Dick Durbin leaving Congress, the lame-duck session represents a critical opportunity to address rising swipe fees facing independent building material dealers.

The American Building Material Alliance (ABMA) is urging Congress to pass the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) before the end of the year, warning that independent lumber and building materials (LBM) dealers cannot afford to wait another Congress for meaningful competition in the credit card processing market.  

The urgency has increased following Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), the legislation’s lead Republican sponsor, losing his reelection bid, and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the lead Democratic sponsor, previously announcing his retirement effective January 2027. With both longtime champions departing, the current lame-duck session represents a critical opportunity to advance the legislation while its bipartisan leadership remains in place.  

“Independent building material dealers operate on incredibly thin margins, often 5 percent or less, yet many are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in credit card swipe fees,” said Rod Wiles, Chair of the ABMA Legislative Committee. “Credit Card fees have now become the highest expense after employee payroll. These are costs that dealers cannot simply absorb. They ultimately affect builders, contractors, and homebuyers through higher prices. Congress has an opportunity to introduce meaningful competition and deliver relief to businesses and consumers alike.”  

Visa and Mastercard control approximately 80 percent of the credit card market, allowing the networks to set the fees merchants pay on transactions. Those fees reached a record $198.25 billion in 2025 and are typically among retailers’ largest operating expenses. Some LBM dealers report annual swipe fee costs of $300,000 to $400,000.  

The Credit Card Competition Act would require banks with $100 billion or more in assets to enable at least two unaffiliated payment networks on their credit cards, including at least one network outside Visa and Mastercard. Merchants would have the ability to choose which network processes each transaction. Smaller banks and credit unions would be exempt. The legislation is designed to introduce competition in fees, security, and service without imposing government price controls. Estimates project approximately $17 billion in annual savings for merchants and consumers.  

President Trump has also publicly endorsed the bipartisan, bicameral legislation, and called for its passage multiple times. While a recent settlement involving credit card swipe fees offers some limited relief, it does not fundamentally change the existing market structure or address the lack of meaningful network competition.  

“Every day Congress delays action, independent dealers continue paying fees that drive up the cost of doing business and ultimately the cost of building,” Kevin Scorsone, director of legislative & regulatory affairs for ABMA said. “This is hurtful to small businesses, not just in our industry, but in industries throughout the country. Small business is essential to the success of our economy. Congress should seize this opportunity and pass the Credit Card Competition Act before the year ends.”  

### 

About the American Building Materials Alliance  

The American Building Materials Alliance (ABMA) is a coalition advocating on behalf of the lumber and building materials industry at the federal level, representing LBM dealers and associated businesses across 17 states and Washington, D.C. ABMA is powered by the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA) and the Florida Building Material Association (FBMA).