Member Day (House Small Business Committee hearing, May 6, 2025)
Summary
Transcript of the May 6, 2025 House Small Business Committee Member Day, Small Business Committee Document Number 119-010, at which members who do not sit on the committee could raise small business issues from their districts. Chairman Roger Williams presided from 1:00 p.m. to 1:40 p.m., and Derek Tran gave the minority opening statement. Members testifying were Mike Kelly, James C. Moylan, Tony Wied, Gus M. Bilirakis, Ben Cline, LaMonica McIver and Brian Jack. One member described the repeal of a regulation that would have put a factory in his district out of business.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Member Day (House Small Business Committee hearing, May 6, 2025).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/member-day-house-small-business-committee-hearing-may-6-2025-ddde9b5a00/
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MEMBER DAY
HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS
UNITED STATES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
HEARING HELD
MAY 6, 2025
Small Business Committee Document Number 119–010
Available via the GPO Website: www.govinfo.gov
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
60–426 WASHINGTON : 2025
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS
ROGER WILLIAMS, Texas, Chairman
PETE STAUBER, Minnesota
DAN MEUSER, Pennsylvania
BETH VAN DUYNE, Texas
JAKE ELLZEY, Texas
MARK ALFORD, Missouri
NICK LALOTA, New York
BRAD FINSTAD, Minnesota
TONY WIED, Wisconsin
ROB BRESNAHAN, Pennsylvania
BRIAN JACK, Georgia
TROY DOWNING, Montana
KIMBERLYN KING-HINDS, Northern Marina Islands
DEREK SCHMIDT, Kansas
JIMMY PATRONIS, Florida
NYDIA VELÁZQUEZ, New York, Ranking Member
MORGAN MCGARVEY, Kentucky
HILLARY SCHOLTEN, Michigan
LAMONICA MCIVER, New Jersey
GIL CISNEROS, California
KELLY MORRISON, Minnesota
GEORGE LATIMER, New York
DEREK TRAN, California
LATEEFAH SIMON, California
JOHNNY OLSZEWSKI, Maryland
HERB CONAWAY, New Jersey
MAGGIE GOODLANDER, New Hampshire
LAUREN HOLMES, Majority Staff Director
MELISSA JUNG, Minority Staff Director
(II)
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CONTENTS
OPENING STATEMENTS
Page
Hon. Roger Williams ................................................................................................ 1
Hon. Derek Tran ...................................................................................................... 2
WITNESSES
Hon. Mike Kelly ....................................................................................................... 4
Hon. James C. Moylan ............................................................................................ 7
Hon. Tony Wied ....................................................................................................... 8
Hon. Gus M. Bilirakis ............................................................................................. 9
Hon. Ben Cline ......................................................................................................... 10
Hon. LaMonica McIver ............................................................................................ 11
Hon. Brian Jack ....................................................................................................... 12
(III)
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MEMBER DAY
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2025
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 1:00 p.m., in Room
2360, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Roger Williams [chair-
man of the Committee] presiding.
Present: Representatives Williams, Patronis, Wied, Jack,
Finstad, Tran, McIver, and Simon.
Chairman WILLIAMS. Before we get started, I want to recognize
Ms. Simon, who is going to lead us in the pledge and the prayer.
Would you please stand?
Ms. SIMON. [Audio malfunction] And we acknowledge that you
put us here to serve and to speak truth and to be together to do
the right thing. The right thing meaning your way and your stead.
The beautiful and amazing guests that we have here today amplify
the tapestry of this beautiful nation that you have set forth and
you allow us to be in, and we are so thankful. Heavenly Father,
in your name, in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, we say amen.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, in-
divisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Chairman WILLIAMS. Good morning or good afternoon. I now
call the Committee on Small Business to order. Without objection,
the Chair is authorized to declare a recession of the committee at
any time. I now recognize myself for my opening statement.
Welcome to today’s House Committee on Small Business Opening
Day hearing or Member Day hearing. I want to thank each of you
for taking the time to come before the committee to share what you
are hearing from small business owners in your districts. Member
Day is an opportunity for us to get a pulse on the issues facing
Main Street America. We deeply value your time and the voice of
you and your constituents.
Now, to me, owning a small business embodies the very essence
of the American dream. The opportunity for an American from any
background to take risk, work hard, and build a better future for
themselves, their families, and their communities. Our economy de-
pends on small business and the workers they employ. In fact, 99
percent of businesses are small, and they employ half of American
workers. From local manufacturers to retail employees, service
workers, and bankers, small businesses are the heartbeat of our
economy, shaping their communities through their dedication, cre-
ativity, and resilience.
(1)
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It is no secret that small businesses have faced historic chal-
lenges over the past four years: the COVID-19 pandemic, out-of-
control inflation, broken supply chains, high interest rates, and a
National labor shortage. To add insult to injury and over-regula-
tion, bad policy under the previous administration hurts small
businesses even further. Every extra hour of paperwork is one less
hour they can tend to their personal livelihoods, and every inflated
tax is an extra dollar that could have gone back into their business.
We see hope on the horizon through a pro-business administration
committed to lowering taxes and cutting regulations. House Repub-
licans are working with President Trump and Ambassador Loeffler
to create an environment where businesses can thrive. We salute
the entrepreneurs who continue to fight and give selflessly back to
their communities. We are eager to enact policy solutions that will
help have a path toward success for both now and the future.
Here on the Committee on Small Business, our mission is to lis-
ten, learn, and better understand the challenges of committees’ op-
portunity impacts on Main Street America. That is why we look
forward to hearing from representatives from across the country as
they recount the experiences of small business owners in their dis-
trict. Today’s conversation will shed light on many of these chal-
lenges plaguing American small business. Increasing the dialogue
between Members can—and off the committee—can only strength-
en and broaden our understanding of how to better serve our na-
tion’s biggest job creators.
I want to thank all of you for being here today. I am looking for-
ward to today’s conversation. With that, I yield to Mr. Tran from
the great state of California for opening remarks.
Mr. TRAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today we will hear di-
rectly from our fellow Members of Congress about their views on
the federal programs and policies that promote small business cre-
ation and growth. In the last four years, our nation has seen an
unprecedented small business boom and come back in the face of
an equally unprecedented global pandemic and recession. Under
the previous administration, main street received critical assist-
ance and investment from historic legislative victories, putting our
economy on a uniquely strong path to recovery. Small employers
startup—tech startups—operating out of their garages, family
farms, and main street restaurants all flourished in the last four
years. They are joined by 22 million new small businesses. We are
well on our way to a slice of the American dream.
But since then, the Trump administration has proven to be a
nightmare for entrepreneurs. Members of both parties are hearing
at town halls nationwide that America’s main streets are increas-
ingly threatened by the economic uncertainty and chaos emanating
from the Trump administration’s policies. In particular, President
Trump’s tariffs imperil the livelihoods of millions of American en-
trepreneurs and employers, all of whom are staring down added
costs ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. In
fact, 88 percent of small firms rely upon imports for the goods they
produce and sell, with many inputs and components lacking viable
domestic alternatives. Furthermore, the suddenness of these tariffs,
as well as their pauses and increases, ignores how most businesses
operate regardless of their size. As the White House repeatedly
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flip-flops on tariffs, small business owners and their customers can-
not reasonably predict how products will be priced next month,
next week, or even tomorrow.
Small business owners and even the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
are begging the Trump administration for immediate tariff relief.
And the White House has spurned their pleas for help, instead
promising tax cuts for the rich and powerful at the expense of the
everyday American. And the pain won’t let up. The Trump admin-
istration’s first hundred days have seen economic activity contract
by 2.8 percent and our ports empty out. With uncertainty rippling
through all sectors of our nation’s economy, America is risking an
entirely preventable recession.
Mr. Chairman, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that this
week is National Small Business Week, where on this committee
we honor the 35 million small businesses in our nation and recom-
mit to promoting and protecting the jobs and livelihoods they sus-
tain. I would also be remiss if I didn’t remind my colleagues that
these same small businesses are disproportionately harmed by re-
cession. That is why this hearing is especially timely. As elected of-
ficials and policymakers, our duty is to build on the progress that
small businesses have made and to give them the resources they
need to thrive. To achieve this, we need a keen understanding of
the greatest challenges, challenges facing small business owners in
our district. I know when we all go home, we are eager to hear
from entrepreneurs about the policies that serve them well and
what we can improve on.
Thank you to all the Members testifying and taking the time out
of their day to share their perspectives that they have heard from
their small business constituents. Today, our committee has a
chance to have an open, frank dialogue about how we can all stand
up and support Main Street America. I look forward to our discus-
sion. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
Chairman WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back. And before
we continue, I would like to take a moment to explain how this
hearing will proceed. Each Member will be given 5 minutes to de-
liver their testimony. And after they finish speaking, we will briefly
pause as we change the panel to accommodate the next Member.
With that, I would like to introduce our first Member, Represent-
ative Mike Kelly, my friend and a fellow car dealer from the great
state of Pennsylvania, and I recognize him to deliver his 5 minutes
of testimony.
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STATEMENTS OF HON. MIKE KELLY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA; HON.
JAMES C. MOYLAN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM
THE TERRITORY OF GUAM; HON. TONY WIED, A REPRESENT-
ATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN; HON.
GUS M. BILIRAKIS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM
THE STATE OF FLORIDA; HON. BEN CLINE, A REPRESENTA-
TIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF VIRGINIA; HON.
LAMONICA MCIVER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY; AND HON. BRIAN JACK,
A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF
GEORGIA
STATEMENT OF HON. MIKE KELLY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
Mr. KELLY. Thank you, Chairman. It is really good to be with
you, especially when the car guys get together. I think we always
talk about how business is going. And quite frankly, from both
opening remarks, I guess it is a tale of two cities. I watched for
four years as we tried to get through the previous administration
with all the types of things that were put in our way, and now we
are into the Trump administration. And I would just remind you,
we are talking about the 30 days since we started on the tariffs.
It is not 30 weeks or 30 months. And I think the impact while we
have all these ideas of how bad it has become.
I got to tell you, I am on the lot when I go home, and where I
am from, it is a little different view of the world. And I tell people
all the time, if you want to know how important small businesses
are, if you have a son who plays little league baseball, see whose
name is on the outfield fence; if you have a daughter who is maybe
performing in a school play, open up the program, and you are
going to see whose name is inside the program because we pick up
the tab on almost everything there is in our small towns and our
small businesses and wherever it is that we live and work. So it
has been an honor for me to serve with Roger because we under-
stand each other so much on what it is and it takes to make a busi-
ness prosper.
And the other side of it is the economic impact that small busi-
nesses have. We pay incredible taxes. We provide benefits. We pro-
vide an idea that, you know what? This is a business that I can—
I can work as hard as I want, I can keep working, and I can pros-
per from it. There are times that it is tougher than other times.
We get that. I have been through both sides of it. I have been
through the situation where I can’t imagine how I am going to
make payroll. The 6th and the 21st were always the biggest days
of the month for me, and people would say, is that an anniversary?
I said, no, it was payroll. And I know that for people who are in
small businesses, we never missed a payday. That is not bragging,
by the way. Now, there were days I didn’t get paid, but for the
team that worked together every single day, we were there for
them. But I think the backbone of America really is small. Small
business is the big business of America. And I think the way we
participate in our communities, it has nothing to do with other
than the fact that we are all on the same field at the same time
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and trying to make sure that everybody, at the end of the day,
walks away thinking, you know what? That was not a wasted day.
That was a day where I actually achieved something.
When I walked in, I got a chance to meet Roger’s family. It kind
of reminds me of my own. And you see these little people as they
grow up. And I think Roger and I are the same. My first job at the
dealership was cleaning restrooms and washing cars and delivering
cars to parts to body shops that needed them. So we were always
on the road or in the shop or doing something. But the real reward
for me was watching John Reamers retire and Jim Ippolito (pho-
netic) retire. People say, who are those guys? I said, well, those are
two people that worked for us. One was a tech and the other
worked in the parts department. My dad, in 1971, right after I had
graduated from school, called me in and says, listen, there is going
to be a guy coming in to talk to us today, and he is going to talk
to us about a pension program. I said, why would he be doing that?
He said, well, at 21, you have no idea what it looks like, but you
will later on.
So why do I bring up those two names? When my dad instituted
that program, when John Reamers retired and Jim Ippolito retired,
they had tears in their eyes when they came in. My dad had al-
ready left the business, but they said, if it had not been for your
dad and the program that he put in place, we never would have
been able to retire on just what we had been able to save. And I
thought, you know what? That is what my dad was talking about
back then. And I think Roger and I share the same thing. Our com-
mitment is not so much to ourselves. Our commitment to ourselves
is that you are going to open those doors every day, and you are
never going to miss the 6th or the 21st. You are going to be there,
not just for the team that you work with every day, but for the
community you live in.
And so I think when you talk about small business, people tell
me, well, big business is the backbone. I said, no, it is not. No, it
is not. Please come into our communities. They have a presence,
but their presence is name only. It is not that they are on the field
every single day. We don’t miss birthdays; we don’t miss anniver-
saries. And again, as my friend lost his wife this year, we share
in grief times, too. So it is a pleasure to be with you today. Please
keep the eye on the ball. It is about small businesses making it
possible for us to be prosperous.
I got to tell you, there are two times in my life that I didn’t pay
one penny in income tax. And I am on Ways and Means, and they
asked me, how did you get away with that? I said, we lost money
that year. So the key to everything in small business, and every
business, you must be profitable. So you can do everything. Not
only do you pay income tax, but you are putting money into pay-
roll, into retirement plans, into health care plans. That takes the
burden off hardworking American taxpayers every day.
So the success of small business is the success of America. So I
can’t tell you how proud I am to be here with you today, sir. And
we are the backbone. We are the backbone of America. Thank you
so much. And thanks for having this meeting.
Chairman WILLIAMS. Thank you, Representative Kelly, for your
friendship and your commitment to this country. And if—do we
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have any Members that have any questions? Well with—well, then
nobody is asking who sells them cheaper, you or me.
Mr. KELLY. Well, wait. We do, I think. Yes. Yes, ma’am?
Chairman WILLIAMS. Yes, Ms. Simon?
Ms. SIMON. I came all this way. I think you deserve a question,
right? Planes, trains, and automobiles. My name is Lateefah
Simon, and I come from the great state of California, which our
Chair reminds me of often, and I appreciate that. Well, thank you
all, to all the witnesses, but one I just want to thank you for your
testimony. It was heartening. Regardless of where and who we are,
how we vote, you know, your testimony was extremely compelling.
I guess I do have a question, and it is really the question, and
there is no right or wrong answer, your hopes for this committee
as we move forth. You know, there is so much, so much at stake,
clearly, for every American. The SBA is a very, very important
agency. We do some oversight over SBA. Just curious, for small
businesses like yours, you literally keep folks going, right?
Mr. KELLY. Yes, ma’am.
Ms. SIMON. What do you need? What do you need from the
United States Congress from this particular committee?
Mr. KELLY. I think what we need more than anything else—be-
cause these are not red or blue issues, these are red, white, and
blue issues. I think too often we get separated by our politics and
not our—and we need to look at our policy. The policies affects
every single American every single day and what we decide on. So
I would hope that—and I—and I know that Roger and I are the
same way. Anytime anybody came into our store, we had always
say, what can I help you with today? And I think when we come
in here to the Congress, we should be looking back home to the
three-quarters of a million people that we represent. Say, what can
we do to help you today? Because I know when small business is
successful, America is successful, and we do so much in our com-
munities, in addition to payroll, which is a big part of it, but our
very presence is what adds hope and trust in the future for Amer-
ica. It is small business that is America’s biggest business.
Ms. SIMON. I appreciate you talking about payroll. Since I was
20 years old, I have had staff, and that day before payroll, when
you don’t have the cash balance, we all sweat, and then we figure
it out and we make it, and we don’t get paid. So thank you for real-
ly modeling. I think, our Chair and our Ranking Member, who isn’t
here today, and our Ranking Member instead, we can say that this
is one of the most productive committees in the United States Con-
gress because we get exactly what you are saying: that regardless
who you are, what you look like, who you pray to, the backbone of
every small town, of every big city, the sandwich shop, the car deal-
er, the—the tire salesman, the local ice cream shop, they build who
we are. They are who we are. The cupcake lady.
Mr. KELLY. Yeah.
Ms. SIMON. So I just really appreciate you, and I hope you can
come back and continue to educate us as we move through a very,
what we think is going to be, a very lively 2 years. Thank you, sir.
Mr. KELLY. Yes, ma’am. Thank you so much.
Chairman WILLIAMS. Thank you.
Mr. KELLY. Mr. Chairman.
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Chairman WILLIAMS. We need to move on to the next.
Mr. KELLY. Okay.
Chairman WILLIAMS. Okay. Thank you for being here.
Mr. KELLY. Thank you.
Chairman WILLIAMS. Appreciate you greatly.
Mr. KELLY. Thank you.
Chairman WILLIAMS. Very much. And now we will bring up
delegate James Moylan from Guam.
STATEMENT OF THE HON. JAMES MOYLAN, A DELEGATE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE TERRITORY OF GUAM
Mr. MOYLAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Ranking Member
Tran. I want to thank you for hosting this Member Day. Thank you
very much.
For over 6 decades, since what we call Super Typhoon Karen
devastated our island in 1962, the SBA branch office has been the
cornerstone in providing disaster loans and grants, enabling busi-
nesses and residents not only to recover and rebuild but to thrive
as well. However, the recent decision to close Guam SBA branch
office in April of this year poses significant challenges for our is-
land. The transfer of responsibility to Hawaii SBA office, more than
3,800 miles and 5 time zones away, poses many risks. The distance
and time zone differences will lead to delays in service and limited
accessibility for small businesses in Guam. Without a local branch
office, our communities will face additional challenges in accessing
much-needed assistance.
Now, I commend the support of SBA’s efforts to streamline
spending, empower small businesses, and to eliminate fraud,
waste, and abuse. However, the current reality falls short in con-
sidering the unique challenges of the Pacific Islands. The current
plan to assign a Procurement Center representative to work along-
side the Small Business Development Center, SBDC, at the Uni-
versity of Guam fails to address the urgent needs of our local com-
munity, especially as we host the military buildup.
While the SBDC plays an important role, it is primarily designed
to support SBA counseling, often with an international focus. The
SBDC is not meant to serve as a substitute for Guam SBA branch
office functions that assist Guam businesses. The Pacific territories
are now the only jurisdiction in the entire nation that lacks on-the-
ground SBA services. Every state has a district office, even Puerto
Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where they have only a single
district office to serve both territories, SBA is retaining their pres-
ence. Yet for Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas,
and American Samoa, we must rely on a district office thousands
of miles away to access SBA services.
The recent decision leaves me with a question: why do small
businesses in the Pacific territories face such a challenge when no-
where else is this the case? To properly address our island needs,
Guam requires a fully operational SBA branch office. Faced with
unique challenges, including higher costs of doing business and
vulnerabilities to natural disasters, Guam small businesses rely
heavily on all SBA services, especially direct on-the-ground assist-
ance. Eliminating the presence on island dismisses federal respon-
siveness and risks undermining our local economy.
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So I respectfully urge this committee, Mr. Chairman, to ensure
that every state and territory small business communities has the
resources they need to thrive. Small businesses are the cornerstone
of America, and we as Congress must take action to ensure that
main street has the tools they need to succeed. Small business
owners deserve continuity of service and support to ensure their
survival and success, regardless of where they are located. Mr.
Chairman, I thank you for your attention on this issue. Thank you.
Chairman WILLIAMS. Thank you very much for appearing. And
we do have time for a 1-minute question? From anybody? Okay,
seeing none. Thank you very much. I now recognize Representative
Tony Wied from the great state of Wisconsin for 5 minutes.
STATEMENT OF HON. TONY WEID, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
Mr. WIED. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to my
colleagues who came to speak today. As most of you may know,
this week is National Small Business Week, a time when we cele-
brate the hard work and contributions that entrepreneurs and
small businesses make to our economy.
As a former small business owner, I know firsthand how difficult
it is to run a successful company. For too long, small businesses on
main street have been overlooked in favor of big businesses on Wall
Street. House Republicans are committed to supporting President
Trump’s efforts to refocus the Small Business Administration away
from the bloated regulatory agency primarily staffed by career bu-
reaucrats in Washington, D.C., towards its original mission of help-
ing small businesses inside their communities. Last week, this
committee did just that. We passed out of committee bills that
moved 30 percent of SBA staff out of Washington, D.C., required
proof of citizenship for SBA loans, and prohibited the SBA from en-
gaging in any voter registration activities. These are all common
sense bills that refocus the Small Business Administration toward
its original mission.
One of the biggest changes we have seen from the SBA under the
Trump administration is an increased focus on manufacturing right
here in the United States of America. From shipbuilding to paper
products, Wisconsin’s 8th district is a manufacturing hub with al-
most one quarter of our working population employed in this vital
economic sector. I am committed to improving access to capital, re-
ducing regulations, and supporting technical school graduates as
we re-shore American manufacturing. I am looking forward to
working with the Administrator Loeffler and Members of this com-
mittee to promote manufacturing in Wisconsin’s 8th district and
across our entire country. There is work to be done, and I, along
with the Small Business Committee colleagues of mine, are com-
mitted to making main street great again. Thank you. I yield back.
Chairman WILLIAMS. The gentleman yields back. 1-minute
question? Okay. Our next Representative and Congressman is Gus
Bilirakis, a good friend from the great state of Florida.
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STATEMENT OF HON. GUS BILIRAKIS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA
Mr. BILIRAKIS. It is good to see my good friend here, my fellow
baseball fan and also my fellow Floridian, a very good friend,
Jimmy Patronis. Great to see you here, Jimmy. So I want to thank
you, Mr. Chairman. I really appreciate you. I want to thank you
for holding this Member’s Day hearing. It is great to testify in front
of you during the National, again, Small Business Week.
Florida is home, as you know, to approximately 2.3 million small
businesses, which employ about 3.1 million people. So I said billion,
I meant million. This represents 43.2 percent of the state’s private
sector workforce. I always enjoy meeting with small business own-
ers in my district who are the lifeblood of our community. As a
matter of fact, Mr. Patronis has probably the best restaurant, and
I am going to get in trouble with my constituents, but in any case,
one of the best restaurants in the state of Florida in Panama City.
And I know he doesn’t own it anymore, but it is still in his family.
So I have many such meetings this year with small business
owners and have held budget workshops to hear what my constitu-
ents would like to see out of Washington, D.C. The number one
concern I have heard from the owners of these businesses is the
need for an extension of the provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and
Jobs Act. I know you agree, Mr. Chairman. These tax policies have
allowed hard-working Americans to hold on to more of their pay-
checks and let small businesses in our state flourish and reinvest
in their communities. Some provisions that have allowed busi-
nesses to grow are the deduction for research and development ex-
penses, bonus depreciation, and a competitive interest deductibility
standard. The gains that have been made since 2017 are at risk if
we do not extend these tax provisions.
Additionally, small businesses are most at risk since they are
overwhelmingly structured as pass-through entities. They have
benefited from the qualified business income deduction and the
personal income tax rate, which are set to expire. Pass-through en-
tities account for 48 percent of private sector for-profit employment
in Florida. In my district alone, 63,010 taxpayers claim the 20 per-
cent deduction, the pass-through deduction, in 2020. This amount-
ed to a collective tax benefit of $425,022,000. The expiration of this
provision would inflict severe damage to those small business own-
ers and have a detrimental impact on our community. We can’t
have that. Within the community at large, the average taxpayer in
Florida would see a 23 percent tax hike if the 2017 tax cuts are
not extended. It would amount to the largest tax increase in his-
tory. Again, we can’t have that, Mr. Chairman. This is unaccept-
able as far as I am concerned.
Similarly, I have talked to small business owners who have been
able to hire more workers and expand their businesses but would
have to scale back if the tax cut provisions were to expire. We need
to ensure that owners are given the tools they need to continue to
make these investments and grow their communities. So again,
small businesses are the backbone of America. I don’t have to tell
you, Mr. Chairman. A permanent extension would give business
owners the long-term tax stability they need to plan and invest in
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their future with confidence. As small businesses succeed, America
succeeds. That is the bottom line.
I support making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions perma-
nent and look forward to continue to work with you again and for
the entire committee. As a matter of fact, Mr. Patronis, my dad
served on this committee, Congressman Bill Bilirakis, his first
term, and I tell you, it is a great committee. Thank you. God bless
you, and I yield back.
Chairman WILLIAMS. Thank you, Gus, for those words, and
also thank you for your family that has been representing this
great country for so long. Thank you very much. Do we have a 1-
minute question? Okay, seeing none. Ben Cline from the great
state of Virginia for 5 minutes. One of the great golf putters of all
time right here.
STATEMENT OF HON. BEN CLINE, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF VIRGINIA
Mr. CLINE. Mr. Chairman, thank you. It is an honor to be before
the committee. I appreciate the opportunity to be here on Small
Business Week to join you in the celebration. And it is an honor
to discuss legislation that I have introduced that supports and posi-
tively impacts small businesses not only in my district, the 6th Dis-
trict of Virginia, but across the nation.
The Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act is
an important piece of legislation under the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee that will help American small businesses comply with the
overwhelming weight of federal regulation. As you know, small
businesses around the United States are at a disadvantage when
complying with burdensome federal regulations. And such regula-
tions, including one-size-fits-all rules that raise prices at the cash
register, cause significant economic harm to small businesses and
consumers. Burdensome regulations also can keep some small busi-
nesses out of the market altogether. Facing insurmountable compli-
ance costs, potential entrepreneurs all too often choose to never
open their small businesses in the first place.
Under the existing Regulatory Flexibility Act, the FRA, agencies
that issue economically burdensome regulations are required to
take small businesses into account. But all too often, agencies don’t
comply with the RFA’s mandates. While the RFA requires agencies
to study the effect of their regulations on small businesses in up
to 75 percent of rulemakings, the agencies either ignored costs on
small businesses or underestimated the regulation’s cost, according
to NFIB.
H. R. 358, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improve-
ments Act, would strengthen the RFA’s already existing provisions
and deter agencies from skirting their statutory obligations to
American small businesses. H. R. 358 requires that agencies con-
vene small business review panels when promulgating all major
rules, which gives small businesses a seat at the table to voice
their concerns about the economically harmful regulations. It also
requires regulators take indirect costs of their regulations into ac-
count. As you know, the bulk of the harm from regulations comes
from the indirect cost of compliance. This bill addresses the over-
sight in the federal regulatory process. Further, it authorizes the
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Small Business Association’s chief advocacy council to create rules
mandating how agencies must conduct their analyses.
Finally, it mandates that all rules as defined under the Adminis-
trative Procedures Act, not just notice and comment rulemakings,
are covered by RFA’s analysis requirements. As you know, Mr.
Chairman, the RFA was passed in 1980, but there are still agencies
which do not take the specific needs of small businesses into ac-
count when crafting regulations, and ultimately, federal regulators
have failed in their obligations to American small business owners
under the RFA.
So, Mr. Chairman, in conclusion, H. R. 358, the Small Business
Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, is a common sense effort
to ensure regulators comply with the RFA’s provisions as Congress
intended by fully considering the total regulatory impact on small
business owners when crafting legislation. I hope it will be the will
of the Committee to report the bill out and put it to your consider-
ation. And I thank you for the opportunity today.
Chairman WILLIAMS. Thank you, Congressman. Thank you for
your leadership.
Mr. CLINE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman WILLIAMS. I now recognize Representative McIver
from the great state of New Jersey for 5 minutes.
STATEMENT OF HON. LAMONICA MCIVER, A REPRESENTATIVE
IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Ms. MCIVER. Thank you, Chairman and Ranking Member, for
holding this hearing, and thank you to our fellow Members of Con-
gress for coming to share their small business goals with us today.
First of all, happy Small Business Week to all of the small busi-
nesses who are tuned into us today. If you are so lucky to be tuned
into us today via C-Span I proudly represent the 10th Congres-
sional District in the great state of New Jersey, which has a GDP
of more than $200 billion and is home to more than 5,000 busi-
nesses, many of them thriving small businesses. These small busi-
nesses are not just job creators; they are community builders, and
they are driving growth. They also include local gems like Big Rocs
Deli, owned by and operated by Rocmond, and Casa De Flora, a
beautiful flower shop owned by Maritza.
We are at a pivotal moment for small businesses like these and
the Small Business Administration. The economy is officially con-
tracting well on its way into a recession, all while the SBA engages
in mass layoffs of qualified and experienced employees and moves
forward with plans to move its offices out of the economic hubs that
need it most. These actions are a direct threat to the millions of
entrepreneurs who depend on the SBA. Our job isn’t just to sup-
port—our job isn’t just to support small businesses in theory. It is
to ensure the SBA can function in real life for real people.
First, we must confront a core challenge: access to information.
For too many small business owners, especially first-generation
and low-income business owners, the process of applying for SBA
loans remains complex and difficult to navigate. That is unaccept-
able. SBA must improve its outreach efforts to ensure that these
entrepreneurs get the same clear, timely, and reliable guidance
that any large business would expect from a bank.
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Second, we cannot allow the historic gains made under the prior
administration to slip away. We saw record growth in the number
of small businesses owned by veterans, women, and people of color.
That didn’t happen by accident. It was the result of a fully staffed
and funded SBA underneath the Biden and Harris administration.
The SBA had a capital impact of 56 billion in 2024. We must
prioritize staffing and resources to ensure as many small business
entrepreneurs as possible are able to share in that success.
Third, we must think beyond our borders. Small businesses rep-
resent over 98 percent of all U.S. exporters, yet many lack the tools
to navigate international trade, a situation made worse by the on
and again tariff policy of the Trump administration. If the adminis-
tration is not going to—not going to abandon its tariffs policies,
then SBA needs to step up its services to these businesses to help
them navigate these very, very trying times.
And finally, the future of small businesses relies not only on who
owns the companies but on how they are owned. That is why I am
calling for a renewed focus on employee ownership models, such as
cooperatives and employee stock ownership plans that allow work-
ers to build wealth and equity through their labor. These models
are proven to stabilize businesses and strengthen local economies.
The SBA must play a leadership role in supporting employee own-
ership, particularly as older Americans retire and ownership suc-
cession becomes a growing issue.
These are not partisan ideas. These are not partisan ideas. They
are common sense steps to make the SBA work better for more
people and in more places. We need an SBA that supports our en-
trepreneurs at home, opens doors abroad, and ensures workers
share in the prosperity they help create. For these reasons, I urge
my colleagues across the aisle and my colleagues on this side of my
aisle to eliminate barriers to growth among small businesses, not
just in today’s discussion, but in the legislation and oversight to
come. Our small businesses deserve nothing less. With that, I yield
back.
Chairman WILLIAMS. The gentlelady yields back. I now recog-
nize Congressman Brian Jack from the great state of Georgia for
5 minutes.
STATEMENT OF HON. BRIAN JACK, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA
Mr. JACK. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and mindful of the
timing of our vote series today, I will be very brief. First and fore-
most, Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for your leadership on
this committee and likewise want to commend the committee’s
work. As you have noted long before, this is one of the last vestiges
of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill, and it is important because we
are trying to solve the problems that affect 99.9 percent of all busi-
nesses across our country.
I just want to highlight two things as it relates to Georgia’s in-
credible 3rd Congressional District. In honor of not just National
Small Business Week, of which we are well within now, but really
Small Business Month over the last month and really this entire
year, I had the privilege of welcoming to my congressional district
about 3 weeks ago Administrator Loeffler. She is a friend of mine.
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I was formerly her constituent before she was appointed, of course,
to lead the Small Business Administration. But I had a chance to
bring her to Troup County, in my district. We had a chance to go
to Jane Foods. If anybody is in Troup County, it is a great place
to visit. And likewise, I took her to really what is Main Street
America, took her to main street in LaGrange. She had a chance
to go to Solomon’s clothing store in Charlie Joseph’s, which is the
best place to eat if you are in LaGrange. It was very special for me.
It is special for the community to have an opportunity to share
with her some of the challenges that they face and, likewise, pro-
vide some recommendations for resolutions to those challenges.
And I also just want to highlight in my closing comments, I had
a chance, working with Members of this committee, to really help
a small business in my district. Just a few months ago, there was
a regulation that was handed down by Joe Biden’s Department of
Energy the day after Christmas, December 26th, 2024, that would
have put out of business a water heater manufacturing company in
my district. Last Friday I welcomed my second cabinet member to
the district, Secretary Chris Wright, to celebrate the passage of our
CRA resolution that repealed that regulation. We talk a lot. We
have heard from innumerable witnesses throughout the course of
this Congress just how regulatory burdens can drastically impact
and affect the way that small businesses function. In this case,
working together with our colleagues and 11 Democrats crossing
the aisle, we repealed a regulation that would put a factory out of
business, and we celebrated its repeal last Friday with the second
cabinet secretary to visit my district. So excited about that blue-
print for success and look forward to building upon that going for-
ward and look forward to continuing to serve under your leader-
ship, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Chairman WILLIAMS. Thank you very much. The gentleman
yields back, and I would like to conclude by thanking all the Mem-
bers who testified today for taking time out of your busy schedule
to advocate on behalf of small businesses in your districts and
around the country. Our committee will keep your ideas at the top
of mind as we continue addressing the issues that our nation ’s
small businesses are facing. Members will have 5 legislative days
to submit statements and supporting materials for the record.
Without objection, so ordered. And if there is no further business,
we will go vote. This committee is adjourned. Thank you.
[Whereupon, at 1:40 p.m., the committee was adjourned.]
Æ
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