Cmte Small Business (R) RSS Articles

Chairman Williams Op-Ed: Stop the Wiretap Shakedown on Main Street

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, the following Op-Ed by Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, appeared in The Hill.

“For too long, the trial bar has treated small businesses as easy targets for lawsuits and settlements. Recently, in my home state of Texas, a skincare company faced a threat of litigation alleging it violated a California wiretapping statute. The alleged surveillance tool? Website cookies. Settling the claim would cost the company more than $20,000.

“This Texas company is not alone. This is one of the growing number of lawsuits against small businesses brought under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA). CIPA is not new. It was enacted when Lyndon Johnson was president, long before the internet existed. Today, crafty trial attorneys are exploiting the law’s broad language to turn ordinary website use into grounds for a payout.

“Attorneys have filed more than 5,600 lawsuits alleging that common website tools — including chat boxes, cookies, analytics software, and pixels — violate the decades-old wiretapping law. Their theory is that transmitting a website visitor's information to a third-party technology provider without proper consent constitutes an unlawful interception.

“Electricians, restaurants, retailers, plumbers, and car dealerships have faced similar claims, as have nonprofits and local governments. One California plumbing contractor, responding to a demand over her website's chat box, said: "We are not wiretappers. We are just plumbers."

“I have spent my entire career in the car business. It never occurred to me that adding a chat window to a dealership website could put someone in the same legal category as tapping a telephone. But Automotive News reported that dealer websites are now a standing target.

“Uncertainty about CIPA’s full scope and impact is problematic. The financial consequences can be substantial. CIPA provides for statutory damages of $5,000 per violation. For small businesses, the threat alone can make settling cheaper than proving they did nothing wrong.

“A large corporation can hire lawyers to litigate the meaning of "interception" and whether a particular piece of software violates a statute enacted before the internet existed. The local plumber and the family-owned retailer cannot.

“For local entrepreneurs and business owners, the question is: How much will it cost to make this go away?

“In 2025, California state Sen. Anna Caballero (D) introduced legislation to curb one category of private lawsuits under CIPA involving website tracking.

“But that legislation does not tackle the broader issue. Other wiretapping claims remain, and businesses still lack a clear line between ordinary website technology and alleged illegal interception.

“This is where Congress can step in. Last week, Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) introduced the Halt Abusive Internet Lawsuits Act, which would exclude ordinary commercial website technology from wiretap and eavesdropping laws.

“If a Democrat in California and a Republican in Idaho examined the same problem and reached the same conclusion, it should tell us something.

“Everyone agrees that businesses that deceive consumers or misuse their information should be held accountable. But protecting privacy does not require treating ordinary website tools as telephone wiretaps.

“Main Street cannot operate under a legal guessing game in which ordinary technology can expose a business to thousands of dollars in liability.

“As chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, my job is to ensure Congress maintains a regulatory environment where business can flourish. We should modernize federal law and clarify where traditional surveillance statutes end, and modern internet privacy law begins.

“Consumers deserve robust privacy protections, and small businesses deserve clear rules.

“Main Street should be focused on job creation, not settling frivolous lawsuits that threaten their livelihood. Every dollar spent to fight one of these claims is a dollar that never makes it into a paycheck.”

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Chairman Williams Op-Ed: Texas is Leading the American Manufacturing Comeback

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the following Op-Ed by Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, appeared in The Dallas Morning News.

“For decades, decisions made in Washington, D.C., have made it easier to build overseas than in America. Factories closed, supply chains moved abroad, and communities across the country watched high-paying manufacturing jobs vanish.

“Thanks to President Donald Trump, the story is changing.

“America is building again, manufacturers are growing more confident, and investment is returning to communities across the country. Congressional Republicans are driving this comeback by creating an economy that rewards businesses for investing, expanding, and producing in America.

“A major part of that effort is 100% expensing, one of the biggest wins in the historic Working Families Tax Cuts House Republicans passed last year, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“We made crucial tax cuts permanent, allowing manufacturers to immediately deduct the cost of qualifying investments, such as machinery and equipment, rather than recovering those costs over years. The law also established 100% expensing for qualifying production property, providing manufacturers with an additional incentive to build and expand production facilities in the United States.

“For a manufacturer deciding whether to purchase a new machine, expand a production line, or build its next facility in America, these pro-growth policies make a significant difference. Letting businesses recover those investments quickly frees up capital to reinvest in workers, equipment, and future growth.

“That is how we make America the best place in the world to build again. Manufacturers are responding with renewed optimism, and Congress must continue to provide them with the tools and certainty they need to grow.

“As Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, I have prioritized expanding access to capital for American manufacturers. That is why I introduced the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act, which doubles the maximum loan amount available to small manufacturers through U.S. Small Business Administration’s loan programs, from $5 million to $10 million.

“Together, pro-growth tax policies and the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act will help small manufacturers access the capital needed to expand, create jobs, and invest in the future of American manufacturing.

“As a lifelong small business owner, I know that when manufacturers invest, the entire small business community reaps the benefits — from the small businesses that supply parts and transport goods to those that provide services and support workers in communities across America.

“My home state of Texas shows exactly what is possible when we create an environment in which manufacturers can thrive.

“The Working Families Tax Cuts have protected an estimated 547,000 Texas jobs, preserved $51 billion in wages, and safeguarded $107 billion in gross domestic product, according to EY and the National Association of Manufacturers. That kind of permanence gives companies the confidence to expand, hire, and bring production back to American soil.

“Texas supports about 980,000 manufacturing jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Lone Star State’s strong manufacturing background and skilled workforce foster growth and, as a result, continue to attract significant investment.

“In 2025, Texas secured $21.5 billion in new foreign direct investment, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the second-highest in any state.

“Recently, Amazon announced a multibillion-dollar investment in a new robotics manufacturing facility in Austin. The facility is expected to create 300 to 500 high-paying manufacturing and engineering jobs while producing advanced robotics systems here in the United States.

“That is the kind of investment we want to see across the country.

“For generations, American manufacturing has driven innovation, opportunity, and economic strength. America should never depend on foreign countries to produce the products we need, especially for our defense industrial base.

“We have skilled workers. We have entrepreneurs. We have the resources. And now, we have policies that reward companies for putting them to work right here at home.

“The American manufacturing comeback is underway, and Texas is showing the country how it is done.”

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Chairman Williams Gavels in Committee on Small Business Markup

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Small Business is holding a full committee markup on nine bills.

Chairman Roger Williams’ opening statement as prepared for delivery:

Good morning, and welcome, everyone. Today, we will mark up nine important bills that support small businesses across the country.

Together, these bills address important issues facing America’s small businesses today and reflect our bipartisan commitment to creating an environment where Main Street can grow and thrive.

As Chairman, I am proud of the work being done in this Committee to support the Administration’s efforts and strengthen the role of small businesses in the American economy and around the world.

This package of bills will strengthen oversight of the SBA, support domestic manufacturing and onshoring efforts, modernize and improve the SBA’s 504 lending program.

These bills will also enhance consistency in disaster response efforts and ensure small businesses are paid on time when construction contract terms are changed.

Finally, they will give small businesses the tools they need to protect themselves from foreign cyber threats, IP theft, and other malicious activity.

I’m proud of the continued bipartisan efforts that led to today’s markup. These efforts have helped secure the passage of 39 small business bills out of the House this year, many of which still await Senate consideration.

I’m eager to continue working with my colleagues to pass meaningful legislation that empowers small businesses and strengthens our communities.

With that, I yield to my friend and the distinguished Ranking Member from New York, Ms. Velázquez, for her opening remarks.

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House Committee on Small Business Reports Nine Bills Favorably to the House

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, led a full Committee markup where the Committee reported nine bills favorably to the House. Chairman Williams issued the following statement after today’s markup.

"Today, the Committee sent nine bipartisan bills to the House floor, building on the 39 small business bills the House has already passed this year," said Chairman Williams. "These bills will strengthen accountability at the SBA, expand access to capital, support American manufacturing, and give entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed. I'm proud of the work behind them, and I look forward to building on this momentum to empower small businesses across the country."

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H.R. 10329: “Combating Foreign Threats to Main Street Act of 2026” — introduced by Chairman Williams (R-TX) and Rep. Tran (D-CA)

This bill directs the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in coordination with relevant federal agencies, to develop and disseminate educational materials to help small businesses identify and address threats from foreign adversaries.
Reported Favorably to the House: 22 Yea, 0 Nay.

H.R. 4615: “Small Business Payment for Performance Act of 2025” — introduced by Reps. Stauber (R-MN) and Scholten (D-MI)

This bill requires federal agencies to make an interim partial payment of at least 50 percent of estimated costs when the federal government changes the specification of a construction project mid-construction. This accelerated payment schedule would help ensure small businesses receive payment sooner when government-directed changes increase a project’s cost.
Reported Favorably to the House, as amended: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.

H.R. 10355: “Disaster Loan Outreach Consistency Act” — introduced by Rep. Mejia (D-NJ) and Del. King-Hinds (R-CNMI)

This bill requires the SBA to establish procedures to ensure that SBA disaster field operations centers provide consistent, accurate, and current outreach materials.
Reported Favorably to the House: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.

H.R. 10371: “Ensuring SBA Implementation of GAO Recommendations Act of 2026” — introduced by Rep. McIver (D-NJ)

This bill requires the Associate Administrator for Veterans Business Development to develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with existing reporting requirements concerning veterans in SBA programs.
Reported Favorably to the House: 22 Yea, 0 Nay.

H.R. 10353: “SBIC Reporting Modernization Act of 2026” — introduced by Reps. Finstad (R-MN) and Morrison (D-MN)

This bill requires the SBA to publish quarterly, rather than annual, reports on the performance of the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program. The bill also enhances reporting metrics to improve Congressional oversight of the program.
Reported Favorably to the House: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.

H.R. 10352: “504 Program Level Flexibility Act” — introduced by Reps. Simon (D-CA) and Alford (R-MO)

This bill authorizes the SBA, upon determining that its commitments to guarantee 504 loans could exceed annual congressional authorization limits, to increase commitments up to 115 percent of that limit. This mirrors existing flexibility in the SBA 7(a) lending program.
Reported Favorably to the House: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.

H.R. 10238: “Cybersecurity for Small Businesses Act of 2026” — introduced by Reps.

Wied (R-WI), Van Duyne (R-TX), Del. King-Hinds (R-CNMI), and Latimer (D-NY)

This bill requires the SBA to provide small businesses with resources to strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure and promote cybersecurity best practices. This bill also requires the SBA to provide small businesses with compliance guidance regarding the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program.
Reported Favorably to the House, as amended: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.

H.R. 9718: “Reshoring American Manufacturing Act of 2026”— introduced by Reps. Wied (R-WI), Van Duyne (R-TX), Ellzey (R-TX), and Olszewski (D-MD)

This bill codifies the SBA’s Make Onshoring Great Again Portal, which provides small businesses with information, contacts, and resources to support the onshoring of domestic manufacturing operations to the United States.
Reported Favorably to the House, as amended: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.

H.R. 10375: “504 Modernization and Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act” — introduced by Ranking Member Velázquez (D-NY) and Chairman Williams (R-TX)

This bill modernizes the SBA 504 lending program by expanding its mission to support workforce development, disaster recovery, and businesses with 10 or fewer employees. This bill updates the occupancy and leasing requirements to provide small businesses with greater flexibility in using their facilities. It also streamlines loan-closing procedures and clarifies that the “Credit Elsewhere" requirement does not apply to 504 loans.
Reported Favorably to the House: 23 Yea, 0 Nay.

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Jack: “Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses”

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development is holding a hearing titled “Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses.”

Subcommittee Chairman Brian Jack’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

Welcome to today’s hearing, “Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses.”

Our hearing is especially timely, as our colleagues in the Senate are expected to vote this afternoon on whether to invoke closure and advance the much-anticipated Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, commonly known as the Clarity Act.

This is our Subcommittee’s second hearing of the 119th Congress, and I thank Ranking Member Scholten for her ongoing partnership as we address how innovation promotes economic growth and job creation by small businesses.

Our Subcommittee’s previous hearing focused on the economic impact of Minor League Baseball on communities across America.

That hearing proved to be a home run, as we welcomed former professional baseball players, Minor League Baseball executives, and even three beloved mascots to this room for a constructive and bipartisan conversation about America’s pastime.

Today, we are focused on what digital assets and blockchain technology can mean for small businesses across America.

When many Americans hear the word “crypto,” they think about Bitcoin, investing, or perhaps volatility in price.

But digital assets are not all the same, and they do not all serve the same purpose.

Stablecoins, for example, are digital assets designed to maintain a stable value, often tied to the U.S. dollar, and can be used to move money quickly over blockchain networks.

Today, let’s bring that conversation to Main Street.

What could this growing technology mean for a restaurant owner accepting a payment?

Or, a contractor awaiting payment for a completed job?

Or, an entrepreneur looking for the capital to expand a business?

Today, I want to focus our hearing on three topics.

Through this innovative technology:

1. Will small businesses be able to keep more of every sale?

2. Will small businesses be able to get paid quicker?

3. How can small businesses utilize this technology?

First, how can small businesses keep more of every sale?

For a small business operating on narrow margins, every dollar matters.

Consider something as simple as a five-dollar purchase at a local coffee shop.

The price of that transaction through certain payment processors can cost the small business in excess of 30 cents.

30 cents may not sound like much to some.

But, multiply it by hundreds of transactions a day, every day, and those costs add up quickly.

If digital payment technologies can safely lower the cost of accepting a payment, that means more money available for payroll, inventory, marketing, and growth.

Second, how can small businesses get paid sooner?

According to the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Report on Employer Firms, 51 percent of employer firms cited uneven cash flow as a financial challenge.

A restaurant still needs to order food.

A retailer still needs to restock its shelves.

A contractor still needs to make payroll.

And Main Street works nights, weekends, and holidays.

Its money should be able to move then, too.

Many stablecoin networks can operate around the clock, allowing payments to move directly over blockchain infrastructure without being limited to traditional banking hours.

These tools may also help small businesses reach customers and suppliers beyond their local markets. For a small business paying an overseas supplier or selling to a customer abroad, stablecoins may offer another way to move dollars across borders more quickly at a lower cost.

The subcommittee is interested in understanding whether this technology can help small businesses access money they have already earned more quickly, expand their reach, and reduce costs – and what limitations or risks may remain.

Finally, how can small businesses utilize this technology? Most small business owners do not have a compliance department or a team of technology experts.

They are running a business, managing employees, serving customers, paying bills, and trying to make payroll.

If we expect them to consider using digital assets, they need practical answers to some basic questions.

What is the difference between Bitcoin and a stablecoin?

What happens after a customer makes a payment?

How does the business convert that payment into dollars?

What are the tax and reporting responsibilities?

And, how does a small business protect itself and its customers from fraud?

A small business owner should not have to become an expert in blockchain technology before deciding whether it could help the business.

Clear rules, practical guidance, and a better understanding can help entrepreneurs assess the opportunities and the risks to make the decision that is right for them.

I expect our witnesses today to help us answer these questions.

Mr. Shirzad has a profound understanding of the broader digital asset ecosystem.

Mr. Leventhal has first-hand experience with how digital payments work for restaurants and other small businesses on Main Street.

And, Dr. Wu can help us examine both the opportunities and the risks.

I look forward to our conversation, and I thank each witness for their testimony.

Immediately after we adjourn, we will host a reception across the hall. More details will be shared at the conclusion of this hearing, but all are invited to attend.

I now recognize the Ranking Member, Representative Scholten, for her opening remarks.

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Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development Holds Hearing on Crypto's Opportunity for Main Street

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brian Jack (R-GA), Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development, held a hearing titled "Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses" to examine how crypto and blockchain technology can lower transaction costs, speed up payments, and open new opportunities for small businesses across the country.

“Today, as the Senate deliberates consideration of the landmark Clarity Act, I convened a bipartisan hearing entitled “Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses.” Our hearing examined opportunities to lower costs for small businesses, reduce payment friction for entrepreneurs, and utilize emerging technology to benefit Main Street across America. Thank you to our witnesses for your insightful testimony before our Subcommittee today,” said Chairman Jack.

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Watch the full hearing here.

Below are some key excerpts from today’s hearing:

Chairman Jack: “What does removing some of these intermediary layers mean in practice? Does it mean lowering costs, faster access to money, better cash flow? All three?” Mr. Shirzad: “It means all three. And for businesses like my family’s, and ones that Mr. Leventhal serves in the food service business. The margins are always extraordinarily thin, so if you save even one percent or two percent because payment costs have gone down, as they will with stablecoin adoption, it’s a transformational moment. It allows restaurants that fail at a very high rate—like my family’s—to survive, thrive, and maybe hire another employee. Do all those things they need to do that are otherwise impossible.”

Chairman Williams: “I’m a car dealer, okay, so I know about margins. I think your business and our business are as tight as it gets. But for many small restaurants, getting a customer through the door is only the beginning, as you said. The real challenge is often turning that customer into a regular. Blackbird has helped restaurants develop stronger relationships with their customers. So my question would be, how can blockchain-enabled technology help a small business build loyalty without requiring the owner to become a technology expert?” Mr. Leventhal: “Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman. That is precisely our job as a technology company building for small businesses: to do the hard work so small businesses don’t have to become particularly sophisticated in the weeds of the technology. You mentioned loyalty. One example of how we’re using blockchain for loyalty is our points currency, which we call $FLY, and it’s available to all of our merchants to use as they see fit. So, if they want to incentivize people to become regulars, they can reward those people with more points. It’s more efficient using digital assets, and it’s more composable using blockchain. And so our job is to build the interfaces, infrastructure, systems, and training so that small businesses can feel that it’s plug-and-play.” Chairman Williams: “So, in the short time I got left, from your experience working directly with restaurants, where does blockchain technology have the greatest impact on a small business’s bottom line?” Mr. Leventhal: “We think it’s going to be in terms of the economics of payments and the economics of acquiring and retaining customers.”

Rep. Fuller: “So, one of the things that I wanted to talk to you about, if crypto is going to be something that will benefit Main Street and not just Silicon Valley, what has to be true so a community bank or small business is willing to take on this technology and use it without a full-time compliance shop?” Mr. Shirzad: “It’s a really great question. You have to think about blockchain technology in the way that we all experience the internet. At the start, it’s an extraordinary efficiency story, and the internet's value proposition was to make email a better, faster option than paper correspondence. So when the internet came about, we all thought, “Oh yeah, there’s an advantage here. We all now think of the internet as much more than email. We think about the internet's ability to make data programmable and, that way, get video conferencing, social media, AI agents, and all those sorts of things. And the same thing’s going to happen with the blockchain. Initially, the value proposition is better, faster payments, which matter for your constituents and small businesses. But eventually, the value proposition will be programmability. So it empowers people, your constituents, who may not be in the coastal urban regions, to be able to do things with their money in a way that only sort of big, sophisticated actors with Big Tech shops could potentially do. And so that sort of evolution of how we all engage with value is a really exciting thing, and why it’s so important for Congress to provide the regulatory clarity we need.”

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Committee on Small Business Activity: The Week of September 14th

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING – The House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development will hold a hearing titled “Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses.” The purpose of the hearing is to highlight the benefits of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology for small businesses and strategies to facilitate broader adoption.

DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, September 15^th at 11:00 AM ET

LOCATION: Hearing Room, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building

WITNESSES:

Mr. Faryar Shirzad

Chief Policy Officer

Coinbase

Mr. Ben Leventhal

Chief Executive Officer

Blackbird Labs, Inc.

Dr. Andrew Wu

Associate Professor of Technology and Operations, Faculty Director, MBA AI Concentration, Faculty Co-Director, Michigan Ross Fintech Initiative

Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

TO ATTEND OR WATCH: This committee hearing is open to the public and can be viewed online on the Committee's YouTube channel.

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FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP – The House Committee on Small Business will hold a full committee markup on 10 bills.

DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, September 16^th at 9:45 AM ET

LOCATION: Hearing Room, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building

LEGISLATION TO BE MARKED UP:

H.R. 10329 – Combating Foreign Threats to Main Street Act of 2026

H.R. 4615 – Small Business Payment for Performance Act of 2025

H.R. 10355 – Disaster Loan Outreach Consistency Act

H.R. ____ – Ensuring SBA Implementation of GAO Recommendations Act of 2026

H.R. 10353 – SBIC Reporting Modernization Act of 2026

H.R. 10352 – 504 Program Level Flexibility Act

H.R. 10238 – Cybersecurity for Small Businesses Act of 2026

H.R. 9718 – Reshoring American Manufacturing Act of 2026

H.R. ____ – 504 Modernization and Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act

H.R. 10328 – Badge to Business Act

TO ATTEND OR WATCH: This committee markup is open to the public and can be viewed online on the Committee's YouTube channel.

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Chairman Williams Op-Ed: Small business owners built the American Dream. Democrats want to take it from you.

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the following Op-Ed by Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, appeared in Fox News.

“Imagine living the American Dream, taking a risk to build a business from nothing, only to watch your tax dollars subsidize the government-backed competitor across the street.

“That is exactly what is happening in New York, where a coalition of small business owners went to court last week to stop the Mamdani regime from using taxpayer dollars to compete directly against them.

“That is socialism on Main Street. That is the Democratic Party's economic agenda.

“Small businesses are not merely one sector of the American economy. They are the American economy. There are roughly 36 million small businesses across the country, employing nearly half of America’s private-sector workforce.

“For more than 50 years, my family has operated a car dealership in Weatherford, Texas. In all that time, I have never been the sole dealer in my market, nor have I asked the government to make me one. In our business, we compete for our customers, and they, not the government, decide who wins.

“That is capitalism.

“Socialism takes that choice away. It does not build a better store. The government picks up the tab, leaving the small business owner across the street to compete against an opponent whose losses are someone else’s problem.

“Republicans chose a different path.

“Through the Working Families Tax Cuts, we made the 20% small business deduction permanent, giving Main Street businesses the certainty to invest, expand, and hire. On average, 8 million small business owners are keeping an extra $4,600—helping them breathe a little easier.

“Full expensing, for example, allows a machine shop to deduct the entire cost of qualifying new equipment in the year it's purchased. We also ended the tax on tips and overtime pay so hardworking Americans can keep more of what they earn.

“Already, nearly 20 million workers have benefited from overtime relief alone.

“We cut red tape, saving $211.8 billion in regulatory costs last fiscal year. In May, the SBA doubled the maximum loan size available to growing businesses, from $5 million to $10 million. The result is an economy where entrepreneurs are once again willing to bet on themselves. Small business optimism is running above its 52-year average, hiring plans are the strongest they have been since 2022, and in July alone, Americans filed 578,926 applications to start a new business.

“That is what happens when Republican leadership puts Main Street first.

“Democrats call their approach compassion. Look at what happens to the people they claim to help.

“Los Angeles is phasing in a $30 hourly wage for hospitality workers, and a survey of owners this spring found that roughly 650 jobs had already been lost. New York's delivery-pay mandate shrank the ranks of active delivery workers by nearly 28,000 and increased the fee on every order by 72%.

“Fewer jobs, higher prices, and small businesses are left holding the bill.

“Republican-led states have taken a different approach. Over the past year, my home state of Texas added 165,600 jobs—more than any other state. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who left the Democratic Party in 2023, now calls his city "America's Sanctuary City from Socialism."

“Same country, same economy, different parties in charge. The results speak for themselves.

“As Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, I will always fight for the people willing to put their own money and time on the line to build something of their own. Government should create conditions that enable entrepreneurs to succeed, not use taxpayer dollars to compete against them.

“Every single Democrat in Congress voted against the Working Families Tax Cuts. They voted against permanent tax relief for 36 million small business owners. They voted against Main Street.

“The choice could not be clearer.

“Socialism offers you a government store. Capitalism offers you the keys to your own.

“The business owners in that New York courtroom are not asking for a handout. They are asking for something far more fundamental: the freedom to compete, the room to build something of their own, and the right to keep what they have worked so hard to create.”

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UPDATED: Committee on Small Business Announces September Hearing Schedule

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Small Business announced its updated September hearing schedule.

Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development Hearing: Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses

Date & Time: Tuesday, September 15^th at 11:00 AM
Location: The Hearing Room, Rayburn 2360

Full Committee Markup

Date & Time: Wednesday, September 16^th at 9:45 AM
Location: The Hearing Room, Rayburn 2360
Bills to be Considered:
- TBD

Full Committee Hearing: Oversight of the SBA's Office of Inspector General

Date & Time: POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Location: The Hearing Room, Rayburn 2360

Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure Hearing: Protecting Main Street, Securing America: Examining Cybersecurity Challenges for Small Business Contractors

Date & Time: POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Location: The Hearing Room, Rayburn 2360

Full Committee Hearing: Delivering for Main Street: Testimony from the Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler

Date & Time: POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Location: The Hearing Room, Rayburn 2360

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Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains Holds Hearing on Energy, Water, and Workforce Needs

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains, held a hearing titled “Fueling the Golden Age: Future Resource Needs and Small Business Opportunity” to examine the energy, water, and workforce needs necessary to support America's next generation of manufacturing, technology, and industrial growth.

“We must build the infrastructure needed to keep growing, alongside water and energy demands, without leaving families, farmers, and small businesses to pay the bill. If we get this right, we can protect ratepayers, strengthen our communities, and create lasting opportunities for the local contractors, manufacturers, and skilled workers who will help build America’s future,” said Chairman Ellzey. “Small businesses are ready to help meet this moment. Congress should make sure they have the trained workers, certifications, and opportunity to compete for these projects, so the economic benefits stay in the communities where the work is being done.”

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Watch the full hearing here.

Below are some key excerpts from today’s hearing:

Chairman Ellzey: “Representative Harris, how can the federal government best partner with States to ensure our water and electric infrastructure is capable of sustaining long term growth?” State Rep. Harris: “Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman. What we are seeing in Texas is that the best approach for us, as a state, has been for the federal government to grant our state agencies primacy in regulatory matters, like the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, as they relate to water issues. As we transition into that nuclear renaissance that I was talking about in my testimony, that’s one of the primary areas of focus. How can we make the permitting process more efficient? We know that as soon as these reactors are demonstrated as safe, then it’s just a matter of site selection. Could the federal government then grant primacy on, at least, site selection to the state of Texas to expedite the process of building and locating those nuclear reactors where they’re needed throughout the state?”

Chairman Williams: “Infrastructure projects are often announced before a community has enough trained workers to execute them. So, to you, Mr. Harris, what workforce needs do you see in your district, particularly for electricians, line workers, welders, pipefitters, water operators, industrial-controls technicians, and on, and on?” State Rep. Harris: “Great question, Mr. Chairman. Water operators are one of the most significant needs that we see in the rural areas. We’ve got multiple; one county can have several different water systems operating. All mostly non-profit. And for those guys to find water operators is almost impossible. So, we’ve been working with the Texas Education Agency and our career and technical colleges to develop pathways for kids out of high school to get certifications in water system operation. Electrical work is another, especially as we see the proliferation of data centers and all these new technologies being built; we don’t have enough electricians and skilled labor like that. We, as the legislature, have been working for years with our education agencies to try to develop a fast track for taking kids directly out of high school, with certification, directly into the workforce as skilled labor.” Chairman Williams: “Well, plumbers, welders, carpenters, etc., save our economy.” State Rep. Harris: “That’s right.”

Rep. Finstad: “For rural manufacturing communities in states like Minnesota, what would it take to make those sites competitive locations for new energy and manufacturing investments? Mr. Ellis: “Thank you, Congressman. I think it’s an important question. My colleagues at AFPI have highlighted that the cheapest megawatt of power is usually the one we already have. Similarly, the best workforce we can use to revitalize former industrial sites is the workforce that's already there. I think we can invest in workforce development. I think we can site new large projects on brownfield industrial sites. That way, we can skip some of the remediation process. We can provide liability protection for pollution or other remediation elements that might already be there. I think that those sites can really be a place where we can springboard into the next generation of manufacturing.”

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Full Committee Markup

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:45:00 GMT

Full Committee Markup

Date & Time: Wednesday, September 16th at 9:45 AM
Location: The Hearing Room, Rayburn 2360
Bills to be Considered:
- TBD

Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development Subcommittee Hearing: “Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses”

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development Subcommittee Hearing: “Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses”

· Date & Time: Tuesday, September 15^th at 11:00 AM ET

· Location: Hearing Room, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building

Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains Subcommittee Hearing: “Fueling the Golden Age: Future Resource Needs and Small Business Opportunity”

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains Subcommittee Hearing: “Fueling the Golden Age: Future Resource Needs and Small Business Opportunity”

· Date & Time: Wednesday, September 2^nd at 10:00 AM ET

· Location: Hearing Room, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building

Full Committee Hearing: Oversight of SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Full Committee Hearing: Oversight of SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development

Date & Time: Wednesday, July 22n^d at 10:00 AM ET
Location: Hearing Room, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building

Full Committee Hearing: “AI on Main Street: How AI is Shaping the Future of Small Business"

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Full Committee Hearing: “AI on Main Street: How AI is Shaping the Future of Small Business”

Date & Time: Tuesday, July 14^th at 10:00 AM ET
Location: Hearing Room, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building

Full Committee Hearing: “250 Years of American Legacy: Small Businesses and the American Dream”

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Full Committee Hearing: “250 Years of American Legacy: Small Businesses and the American Dream”

Date & Time: Wednesday, July 1^st at 10:00 AM ET
Location: Hearing Room, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building

Full Committee Hearing: “From Startup to Scale: The Role of the SBA Office of Investment and Innovation in Powering America’s Small Businesses”

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Full Committee Hearing: “From Startup to Scale: The Role of the SBA Office of Investment and Innovation in Powering America’s Small Businesses”

Date & Time: Thursday, June 25^th at 10:00 AM ET
Location: Hearing Room, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building

Full Committee Hearing: “Restoring America's Industrial Base: The Role of Small Businesses in National Security”

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Full Committee Hearing: “Restoring America's Industrial Base: The Role of Small Businesses in National Security”

Date & Time: Wednesday, June 3^rd at 10:00 AM ET
Location: Hearing Room, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building

Small Business Showcase

Thu, 14 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

SMALL BUSINESS SHOWCASE

DATE AND TIME: Thursday, May 14th at 2:00 PM ET

LOCATION: HC-5

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Full Committee Markup

Wed, 20 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Full Committee Markup

· Date & Time: Wednesday, May 20th, at 2:00 PM ET

· Location: Hearing Room, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building

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