Current Legislative Initiatives
Payment Choice Act of 2023
Since the 118th Congress convened in January, the Coalition has been working with Representatives Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), and John Rose (R-TN), and Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), in the development of both H.R. 4128 and S. 1984, the Payment Choice Act of 2023 (the “PCA”), introduced in both houses of Congress on June 14. To view a pdf version of H.R 4128, click here. For a pdf version of S. 1984, click here.
The PCA, which twice passed the House on bipartisan votes in 2022, but then failed to get to a vote in the Senate, would guarantee the right of U.S. consumers to pay with cash for in-person retail purchases made at brick-and-mortar merchants.
We encourage you to contact your member of Congress and your senators in support of these initiatives. To find your member of Congress, click here.
If you need assistance in identifying your representative, please contact us and we will be glad to assist you.
House Resolution 341
Representatives Rose and Payne previously had also introduced H.Res. 341, on April 28, to remind and emphasize to Members of Congress that maintaining the ability of U.S. consumers to pay with cash for in-person retail purchases is critical to the continued strength and vitality of the American economy, at home and abroad. The resolution is intended to raise awareness of the urgent need for Congress to take action to ensure that millions of American consumers can continue to rely on U.S. currency to pay for the goods and services that they purchase in the marketplace. To view the resolution in a pdf format, click here.
We encourage you to contact your member of Congress and your senators in support of these initiatives. To find your member of Congress, click here.
If you need assistance in identifying your representative, please contact us and we will be glad to assist you.
Safe Access to Cash Act of 2023
The Coalition also has worked with Representatives Rose and Glenn Ivey (D-MD) in developing H.R. 3398, the Safe Access to Cash Act of 2023, introduced in the House of Representatives on May 17.
The purpose of the Safe Access to Cash Act is to eliminate a serious omission in the federal Bank Robbery Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2113, which has resulted from the current widespread use by banks and their depositors of technology that wasn’t available in 1934, when that act was adopted in order to make bank robbery a federal crime.
This proposed act would bring within the coverage of the federal Bank Robbery Act crimes committed against independently owned automated teller machine (ATM) terminals, or against anyone using or servicing any such terminal, to the same extent that such crimes that involve bank-owned ATMs already are covered by the federal act.
Since nearly sixty percent of all ATMs in service in the U.S. now are independently owned, the Coalition believes that it is time for Congress to level the playing field and provide to the users, servicers, and owners of independent ATMs the same safeguards and protections that enforcement and prosecution by federal authorities already provide in the case of crimes against or involving bank-owned ATMs. To view this bill in a pdf format, click here.
We encourage you to contact your member of Congress and your senators in support of these initiatives. To find your member of Congress, click here.
If you need assistance in identifying your representative, please contact us and we will be glad to assist you.