Chairman Williams: “Local Ownership, National Brands: How Franchising is a Pathway to Entrepreneurship”

Summary

Opening statement of Chairman Roger Williams, as prepared for delivery, for a House Committee on Small Business hearing on January 22, 2026 titled "Local Ownership, National Brands: How Franchising is a Pathway to Entrepreneurship." The statement says the hearing is the committee's second in the 119th Congress on the franchise business model and says the first hearing focused on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the Joint Employer rule. It says the committee expects to hear from franchisees and franchisors and will highlight a clear definition of the Joint Employer standard. It cites an estimated 831,000 franchise businesses and $550 billion contributed to U.S. GDP. The statement closes by yielding to Ranking Member Velázquez.

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Opening Statements

Chairman Williams: “Local Ownership, National Brands: How Franchising is a Pathway to Entrepreneurship”

January 22, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Small Business is holding a hearing titled “Local Ownership, National Brands: How Franchising is a Pathway to Entrepreneurship.”

Chairman Roger Williams’ opening statement as prepared for delivery:

Welcome to today’s hearing, “Local Ownership, National Brands: How Franchising is a Pathway to Entrepreneurship.”

Today’s hearing will be the Committee’s second hearing in the 119th Congress regarding the franchise business model.

Our first hearing largely focused on the importance of extending President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and on the impacts of burdensome regulations imposed by the Biden-Harris Administration, such as the disastrous Joint Employer rule.

Fortunately, Congress delivered in a critical moment, and President Trump signed the Working Families Tax Cuts, the largest tax cut in American history, into law on July 4th of last year.

This legislation not only prevented a tax hike on America’s small businesses but also made the 20 percent 199A small business deduction permanent. That means Main Street will have more cash on hand to invest and grow their businesses.

President Trump’s tax bill also cuts taxes on tips and overtime, helping small businesses retain employees and reward them for their hard work.

Today, we expect to hear from franchisees and franchisors about how President Trump’s tax cuts will help their businesses and employees. We will highlight the continued importance of codifying a deregulatory agenda for small businesses, including a clear and reasonable definition of the Joint Employer standard.

This clarity will give small businesses, including franchises, that operate in every corner of America the certainty they need to grow and succeed.

There are an estimated 831,000 franchise businesses operating across the country. Franchises employed nearly nine million people, or roughly 5.5 percent of U.S. employment, and contributed $550 billion to U.S. GDP.

My family has been part of the franchise model in the car business for over 80 years. I’ve seen firsthand the benefits to consumers, manufacturers, and most importantly, our local communities.

The franchise business model offers aspiring entrepreneurs access to resources and tools to assist with the many challenges of business ownership.

By lowering taxes, reducing regulations, and promoting access to capital, we can empower these entrepreneurs to thrive, invest in their employees, and continue building stronger communities across our nation.

I would like to thank our panel of witnesses for taking the time away from their small businesses to participate in this important hearing. We look forward to your testimony.

With that, I will yield to our distinguished Ranking Member from New York, Ms. Velázquez, for her opening remarks.

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