WASHINGTON - The agreement reached by the House and Senate financial services reform negotiators last week to finalize a bill with critical swipe fee reforms included was a great step forward. But the job is not over and retailers need to take action one more time.

Both the House and the Senate must approve the final bill the conferees constructed. We expect final votes to occur on Tuesday, June 29 in the House of Representatives and Thursday, July 1 in the Senate.

Now, the credit card companies, big banks and credit unions are turning up the heat to defeat the entire Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act because they oppose the swipe fee provisions.

Retailers must fight back. We have come too far to let reforms slip through our fingers at the very last stage of the process.

NACS is calling upon all of its members ?" again ?" to contact your legislators and urge them to vote "Yes" on H.R. 4173, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

NACS has prepared a new letter for you to send to your senators and representatives with a few clicks of your mouse. Log in and tell them to support this legislation.

We also encourage you to call your legislators with the same message. You can reach your legislators by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

In addition, you can obtain more information on your legislators after you send your letters. While logged in to the NACS site, select "My Info" and then "My Legislators" for additional contact information and their voting record on key NACS issues.