Members of OHI leadership, joined by 14 campground owners from across the United States, will travel to Washington, D.C., next week to advocate for the Credit Card Competition Act. The delegation will collaborate with the Merchant Payments Coalition to address the issue of high credit card swipe fees, aiming to save small businesses, including RV parks and campgrounds.
At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on November 19, Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) cautioned the credit card industry. During the hearing, Senator Durbin emphasized the need for reform, highlighting the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act, which he co-introduced with Senator Roger Marshall in July 2022.
“The Credit Card Competition Act would break the Visa-Mastercard stranglehold on the market by requiring only the largest banks—those with more than $100 billion in assets—to enable two networks on their cards, and one must be a company other than Visa or Mastercard. In this way, small businesses would finally have a real choice,” Durbin said.
According to a press release, Visa and Mastercard’s control of the market has resulted in high fees for U.S. merchants, totaling over $100 billion in 2023. These fees, which include interchange and network fees, disproportionately affect “small, family-owned businesses like OHI members.” These costs are often passed on to consumers through increased prices.
The OHI delegation plans to meet with Senators from 17 states, including Alaska, Florida, New York, and Texas, to discuss the importance of fostering competition in the credit card marketplace. The meetings come at a critical time as the Senate prepares to revisit the Credit Card Competition Act in the new year.
OHI’s efforts are strategically timed to coincide with the lame-duck period, providing an opportunity to shape lawmakers’ perspectives on credit card swipe fees and their broader implications for small businesses. The delegation also aims to raise awareness of the outdoor hospitality industry’s role in the national economy.
“In advocating for the Credit Card Competition Act, our goal is to support legislation that promotes fairness and helps our industry thrive,” OHI President and CEO Paul Bambei said. “As the national voice of the Outdoor Hospitality Industry, we’re committed to representing our members’ interests and ensuring their concerns are heard in Washington. We’re proud to stand with our members and give them a powerful voice on Capitol Hill.”
This advocacy aligns with OHI’s mission to represent the interests of private RV parks and campgrounds across North America. The association continues to focus on providing its members with resources, networking opportunities, and legislative support to strengthen the outdoor hospitality industry.
Featured image by OHI
