The bipartisan PACE Act was introduced in Congress — learn what it means for you!
The bipartisan PACE Act was introduced in Congress — learn what it means for you!

Ahead of House Financial Services Hearing, Voters and Local Business Owners Across the Country Urge Congress to Pass the PACE Act

From a petition with over 8,000 signatures to small business owners and community leaders in Arkansas, California, Nebraska, Oregon, and Wisconsin, support is building to modernize the U.S. payments system to make it faster and more affordable 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of the House Financial Services Committee’s June 24 hearing on the future of payments, voters and local business owners across the country are urging Congress to modernize the nation’s payments system. Advocates from across the political spectrum have added more than 8,000 signatures to a new petition from the Alliance for Secure and Accessible Payments (ASAP) calling on Congress to pass the Payments Modernization and Competition Enhancement (PACE) Act and usher in an era of faster, cheaper, and more accessible payments.

The petition urges Congress to modernize the nation’s payment system by supporting the PACE Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Sam Liccardo (D-CA). The bill would allow regulated payment firms to apply to move money directly through the Federal Reserve payment rails, cutting out legacy middlemen that slow payments and add costs for consumers and small businesses.

“Americans across the country are making clear that payments modernization is a kitchen-table affordability issue,” said ASAP Spokesperson John Glennon. “When families or businesses are waiting on funds to clear, even a short delay can mean late fees, missed bills, or added stress during an emergency. The PACE Act is a ready-made, bipartisan fix, and Congress should move it forward without delay so our payments system can finally catch up to how people actually live and work.”

Petition signers described the real-life impact of delayed payments:

  • Patricia M. of Mission Viejo, California, said faster access would help when “an unexpected expense come[s] in just as a regular bill must be paid.”
  • Betty Ann M. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, said a faster system would help with “being able to pay my bills on time and go grocery shopping on time and not have to worry about feeding my family.”
  • Tanya H. of Happy, Kentucky, said she “wouldn’t have to wait extra days to receive pay to buy groceries or pay bills.”
  • Anne R. of Janesville, Wisconsin, age 93, said, “At my age, I never know if I will have a big health emergency.”
  • Kevin M. of Mill City, Oregon, a retired small business restaurant owner, said faster payments are “extremely important to the base of our economy.”
  • Mike M. of Aurora, Illinois, put it simply: “I have to be able to take care of my payments quickly and securely as possible. Pass this legislation.”

Click HERE to access the full petition.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY: SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS

In addition to the petition signers, small business owners, local officials, and community leaders are telling their members of Congress what slow and costly payments mean for their livelihoods and why modernizing the system matters.

Arkansas

Joel Edwards, Benton County Collector-elect and former small business owner: “The way money moves in the United States hasn’t kept up with how people actually live and work today. Most of us can send a message or complete a purchase in seconds, yet moving our own money can still take days. That gap is more than an inconvenience. It creates real costs for families trying to manage bills and for small businesses trying to keep cash flowing.”

California

Nick Payzant, Owner, Cerna Senior Home Health Care, Orange County: “Modernizing payments is not an abstract policy goal. It’s about whether a paycheck is available when it’s needed. It’s about whether a small business can make payroll without waiting for a delayed transfer. The PACE Act provides members of Congress a golden opportunity to act on something voters already agree on and address an important aspect of making life more affordable in America.”

Paul Cramer, President, Star Milling Company; National Board Member and California PAC Chair, National Federation of Independent Business: “For small businesses and consumers, this is a practical, pro-competition policy. By creating an optional federal payments charter, the bill would let qualified, regulated firms access payment infrastructure more directly — reducing bottlenecks, speeding settlement, and increasing competition.”

Nebraska

Max Winkler, Small Business Employee, Lincoln: “Much of America’s payment system still operates on outdated rails. In an economy where people expect instant access, 24/7 service, and lower-cost options, it does not make sense for basic transfers to be slowed down by unnecessary middlemen or limited access to payment infrastructure. Consumers and businesses should have more choices, not fewer.”

Oregon

Katie Neely, Founder, Girlgoyle, and Small Business Employee: “Selling albums and merchandise is one of the most important ways musicians supplement their income. It is what often makes touring and live shows financially viable. But artists can still wait days to access funds they earned that same night. That delay matters. It affects whether I can pay rent on time, cover gas to get to the next gig, or reinvest in the band.”

Rebecca Vogt, Owner, Telios Farm: “Many farmers operate on tight margins and face seasonal cash-flow challenges. Today, even when a customer pays right away, a farm may still wait days before those funds are available. For small farms, farm stands, farmers market vendors, and local food producers, that delay can make it harder to cover payroll, pay workers, purchase seed and feed, or respond to busy seasonal periods.”

Cara Turano, President and Executive Director, Oregon Entrepreneurs Network: “The bill is a practical effort to modernize how payments move in the United States. It would help create more competition and give businesses and consumers better access to faster, more reliable payment options. This matters well beyond the tech sector. When payments are delayed, small businesses feel it immediately.”

Wisconsin

Erin Decker, Kenosha County Supervisor and Co-Owner, Merlin Complete Auto Care (published in The Cap Times): “This is not just a Washington policy debate. Faster and more affordable payments help small businesses manage cash flow, keep operations running smoothly, and continue keeping costs down for customers. At a time when costs are already high, reducing unnecessary delays and fees should simply be common sense. The PACE Act is a practical, bipartisan step forward, and I hope my Congressman, Bryan Steil, along with the rest of Congress, will support it.”

Paul McGraw, Owner, Geneva and Kenosha Tap Houses: “The PACE Act would be a game changer for me and countless other small business owners across Wisconsin. If passed, it will ensure America’s payment system is modernized to our high-tech world, meaning money will move faster and competition will increase, lowering costs for businesses and consumers.”

Tammy Bloom, Community Leader, Pleasant Prairie: “As a longtime conservative Republican and someone who believes strongly in free markets and competition, this bill makes a lot of sense to me. Too often, a handful of large players control how payments move through the system, and regular people and small businesses end up paying the price through delays, fees, and limited options.”

About ASAP

The Alliance for Secure and Accessible Payments is a coalition dedicated to modernizing the U.S. payments system so consumers, families, workers and small businesses have access to faster, more accessible, secure and reliable payment options.

###