PRINTER'S NO. 3279
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
475
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY KUTZ, JUNE 10, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 10, 2024
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to protect consumers
from government interference in the free markets and any
actions that would weaken our national security by opposing
Congressional efforts to overreach into the wallets of
American consumers and small businesses.
WHEREAS, Americans have developed an exceptionally advanced
and innovative payments system through a steadfast focus on
private sector leadership that respects the right of consumers
and companies to make their own informed choices about how they
pay and are paid; and
WHEREAS, The market-based payments approach in this country
responds to the dynamic and diverse needs of American
entrepreneurs and consumers rather than operating under static
government mandates; and
WHEREAS, While other nations import payments technology to
run their economy, American companies set the standard of the
global payments ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, It is important to prioritize the protection of
consumers from government interference that would shift
financial transactions to less secure, less innovative and
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potentially risky providers that could place consumers and their
financial data in a more vulnerable position; and
WHEREAS, States should oppose any governmental economic
favoritism, wherever proposed, that would negatively impact
consumers, provide less choice and access to popular consumer
benefits, threaten airline services or undermine critical
payment fraud protections while increasing national security
risks; and
WHEREAS, The commandeering of the payments system by a
centralized government or bank threatens personal privacy,
innovation and American economic leadership; and
WHEREAS, The United States has the most robust and secure
financial system in the world and a strong network supporting
small businesses and protecting consumers; and
WHEREAS, More than 486 million credit cards are in use in the
United States, with more than 196 million Americans holding at
least one credit card; and
WHEREAS, States should protect the right of consumers to
choose their payment methods and pay transparent prices by
preventing the addition of surcharges when consumers choose to
pay with credit cards; and
WHEREAS, The credit card payments industry is a healthy and
competitive space, and further legislation to impose government-
mandated price controls in this area is both unnecessary and
harmful to innovation and security; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the Congress
of the United States to protect consumers from government
interference in the free markets and any actions that would
weaken our national security by opposing Congressional efforts
to overreach into the wallets of American consumers and small
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businesses.
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