Since its introduction earlier this year, credit unions, advocacy groups, and other industry supporters have been quite vocal in their opposition to the Credit Card Competition Act, which aims to give merchants a choice of which payment network to use when processing payments, therefore allowing them to determine which “swipe fees” they wish to pay. The Act, while aimed at large financial institutions of $100 billion in assets or more—under which only one credit union, Navy Federal, qualifies—has drawn the ire of credit unions and advocacy groups nonetheless.

Now, following the recent disasters that Hurricanes Milton and Helene have brought to the US, these groups fear the Credit Card Competition Act’s inclusion into the disaster relief legislation Congress will be reviewing once it returns from recess in November. Understanding that disaster relief is a must-pass bill needed in order to help communities struggling to recover, opponents argue that tacking the Credit Card Competition Act onto it is simply a way to avoid the due process that such legislation must go through and an easy way to get the needed votes for it.

Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) in particular has expressed its distaste at the idea, claiming such a move would only serve to harm consumers, especially military families, during such a difficult time and undermine standard procedures, calling the concept “chilling.”

In a recent letter to Congress, DCUC’s Chief Advocacy Officer, Jason Stverak, wrote, “It is unwise to make such a significant change to the American financial system without the bill following the regular legislative process. Combining such a policy with crucial disaster relief funding could have devastating consequences for military families at a time when they need greater financial stability and support.”

“We want to ensure that as both chambers rightly consider supplemental disaster relief that they understand the CCCA should not be part of that piece of legislation,” Stverak noted. “The CCCA would dramatically alter the payment system in the American economy, and if it were to be added to must-pass legislation without going through the regular order, that would be chilling. We would hope that Congress would allow the committee process to work.”

Congress will return after the November 5th election and will most likely be in a hurry to pass legislation, including disaster relief, before seats potentially change hands come January. Whether the CCC Act will be a part of said legislation remains to be seen.