On April 9, Small Business Majority released a new poll that reveals that small businesses believe the federal government should take steps to address the cost of care and they strongly support several legislative solutions. Additionally, the poll found that a lack of affordable and accessible childcare is a barrier to small business formation (58%) and growth (59%) for many entrepreneurs.
Read the reportOn May 6, the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a field hearing in Maryland entitled "Promoting Opportunity: The Need for Targeted Federal Business Programs to Address Ongoing Racial Discrimination." Small Business Majority network members Hyacinth Tucker and Brenda Doles submitted written testimony on barriers they've encountered as minority small business owners and how policymakers can help address discrimination and promote diversity through federal procurement programs.
On April 4, Small Business Majority network members Brendan Mccluskey, Shelley Mills and Teaera Strum joined U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Congressman Kweisi Mfume and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott to discuss the impact of the Key Bridge collapse on small businesses and learn about the SBA's economic recovery efforts.
On April 3, Small Business Majority released new polls in Illinois, North Carolina and Texas that reveal small business owners support reforms that remove barriers to occupational licensing for justice-impacted individuals, as well as measures to end debt-based drivers license suspensions. Additionally, the polls find that entrepreneurs are struggling to recruit and retain qualified workers amidst a workforce shortage, and that these reforms would allow them to access an underutilized workforce.
Read the reportsOn March 25, National Small Business Council member Janna Rodriguez and Small Business Majority Government Affairs Director Alexis D’Amato attended the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA's) first Child Care Conference. Janna also participated in a roundtable at the White House with SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman where small business owners, SBA resource partners and childcare providers discussed the administrator’s vision for improving the childcare ecosystem.
On March 15, Small Business Majority network members, alongside other small business owners and advocates, attended the White House’s inaugural Regional Small Business Summit. The entrepreneurs met with U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman and other Biden-Harris administration officials to discuss how to help Main Street thrive.
Read moreOn February 21, Small Business Majority released a new poll that reveals that entrepreneurs who offer health coverage to their employees are struggling with rising healthcare costs and are being forced to make changes to their benefits offerings as a result. Additionally, the poll found strong support for policy solutions to lower costs, with 96% of entrepreneurs agreeing that healthcare providers should be required to publicly post the prices they charge for services.
Read the reportOn January 17, Small Business Majority CEO and Founder John Arensmeyer testified before the U.S. Senate Budget Committee in a hearing titled “The Great Escape: Closing the Corporate Loopholes that Reward Offshoring Jobs and Profits.” He shared comments on how the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has failed to deliver for Main Street America and called on Congress to make the international tax code more equitable to ensure America’s small businesses are not left picking up the tab that remains unpaid by the largest corporations.
Watch the recordingOn January 10, Small Business Majority released a new poll of New Mexico small business owners, which revealed that they overwhelmingly support (85%) the creation of a state-administered paid family and medical leave program. Additionally, the poll found that 61% of entrepreneurs believe that a state-run program would level the playing field for small businesses to better compete with larger companies that can afford to offer robust benefits on their own.
Read the reportOn November 13, Small Business Majority hosted a webinar on how a potential government shutdown would negatively impact small businesses nationwide. Representative Sharice Davids (KS-3) and small business owner Talibah Bayles provided special remarks on the importance of small businesses to their local economies and the need for bipartisan collaboration to avoid a shutdown.
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