Most of us swipe or tap a credit card every day without thinking about what happens behind the scenes. But as a small business owner, I rely on the back end of that system every day. When a customer pays with a card, the payment moves through a network that verifies the charge, protects against fraud and ensures the money actually reaches my business. That system works. It is fast, secure and reliable, which matters when most of my customers choose to pay with a card. 

That’s why I am concerned about the Credit Card Competition Act being debated in Congress. This proposed bill would force credit card transactions to be routed through different payment networks that may not have the security features or fraud protections we are used to and rely on. While supporters claim it will lower costs, there is no guarantee small businesses like mine would see any of those savings. Congress should focus on fixing real problems, not creating new ones for small businesses trying to survive.

Robert Smyth
Portland