b'LEGISLATIVE REPORTLEGISLATIVE Wrapping the Year With Actions That Will Shape the IndustryRICHARD PATCH // LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORA sthesecondsessionoftheforpassengervesseloperators.TheGuardtofulfilltheirmissionsthat 119th Congress gets under- CoastGuardauthorizationbillau- apply most directly to our members.way, the House and Senatethorizes appropriations through FY closed out 2025 with a series of ac- 2027andadvancesabroadsetofRENEWED FOCUS ON tions that will shape the operating,measures aimed at strengthening theCREDIT CARD SWIPE FEESregulatory,andeconomicenviron- services missions. Anothernotabledevelopmentover ment for passenger vessel operators.the past month has been the reintro-Overthepastseveralweeks,law- The authorization is a result of strongduction of the Credit Card Competi-makersfinalizedanewU.S.Coastbipartisansupportandwasrefinedtion Act, a bipartisan effort aimed at Guardauthorizationaspartofthethrough bicameral negotiations beforeaddressingtheexorbitantswipefees annual defense bill, reintroduced bi- being folded into the NDAA. Whilechargedbycreditcardcompanies. partisan legislation aimed at curbingthe legislation is wide-ranging, severalSponsored in the Senate by Roger Mar-excessive credit card swipe fees, andsectionsareparticularlyrelevanttoshall(Kan.)andDickDurbin(Ill.), launched a new bipartisan Congres- the PVA vessel members, including:and in the House by Lance Gooden sional Ferry Caucus to elevate atten- (Texas) and Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), the tion to ferry issues on Capitol Hill.A prohibition on the removal legislation seeks to inject competition Taken together, these developmentsof aids to navigation (AtoN) into a system too long dominated by and others reflect a busy and conse- in several Coast Guard sectors two major card networks.quential period for maritime policyuntil an extensive study isand one that intersects directly withpreformed and reported For passenger vessel operators, credit PVAs legislative priorities. cardswipefeeshavebecomeasig- The addition of felony level nificantandgrowingcostofdoingCOAST GUARDpenalties for the operation of a business. From ticket sales and reser-AUTHORIZATION IS ENACTED vessel in a grossly negligent vationstoonboardfood,beverage, Latelastyear,Congresscompletedmanner that endangers the life,andretailpurchaseselectronic workontheNationalDefenseAu- limb, or property of a person paymentsarenowthenorm.Swipe thorizationAct(NDAA)forFiscalfeespaidtocreditcardprocessors Year 2026, which includes the CoastA study of commercial areassessedasapercentageofeach Guard Authorization Act of 2025 asamphibious vessels transactionandriseasticketprices a separate division. Signed into law inincrease to keep pace with inflation, December, the NDAA serves as theSafety requirements applicable labor costs, fuel prices, and regulatory primary vehicle for authorizing fund- to overnight passenger vessels compliance. These fees quietly erode ing levels and policy direction for thecarrying 250 people or more orprofit margins year after year.U.S. military and, by extension, theoperating internationallyU.S. Coast Guard. Thelegislationwouldapplyonlyto For PVA members, the importance ofthe nations largest banks, those with AlthoughCoastGuardauthoriza- sustained Coast Guard funding can- assetsof$100billionormore,and tion bills are often viewed throughnotbeoverstated.WhiletheCoastwould require that they offer at least a defense or homeland security lens,Guards mission and focus is evolving,twounaffiliatedpaymentnetworks theycarryimportantimplicationsPVA will continue to press the Coaston their credit cards. By giving mer-FOGHORN 28'