WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the following op-ed by Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, and Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) appeared in the Washington Examiner.

“The Biden regulatory regime crushed Main Street America. Unlike large corporations, small businesses cannot afford teams of lawyers and accountants to deal with the burden of unnecessary red tape. To comply with the same regulations, small business owners pay an average of 20% more. They must dedicate a higher portion of their income and workforce to regulatory compliance.

“The burden of government regulations continues to grow exponentially because the government has no market competition to keep it in check, meaning there are no natural incentives for government agencies to operate affordably or efficiently. Federal agencies have stacked regulations on regulations for decades, creating nearly unattainable barriers to success.

“How are small businesses supposed to compete in the marketplace when they are legally required to spend all their time and money on burdensome, government-crafted regulations? It’s not just an issue of fairness. Saving America’s small businesses is a moral imperative if we are to continue to be a nation that drives innovation, leads the world in new technologies, and empowers start-up companies to become global industry leaders.

“Truly, our small businesses represent the vital soul of American entrepreneurship. With over 62% of new jobs coming out of American small businesses, they are a critical lifeline of a thriving economy. As former small business owners ourselves, we have lived the American dream of successfully following our own ambitions. With that spirit in mind, we bring our passion and energy to shredding federal barriers getting in the way of small business growth and prosperity.

“The House Committee on Small Business and the Trump administration are committed to reducing the enormous burden of red tape plaguing Main Street. Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) recently introduced the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act, and President Donald Trump’s executive order mandating federal agencies to “unleash prosperity through deregulation” will stop unelected, faceless bureaucrats from further suppressing small businesses’ success.

“The stark difference between the Biden administration and the Trump administration regarding their regulatory agendas is one of the many reasons small business optimism has spiked since Trump won reelection. Over the four years of his presidency, Joe Biden imposed 356 million hours of paperwork and a record-high $1.8 trillion of regulations on the nation.

“In contrast, 5 1/2 regulations were removed for every regulation created during the first Trump administration. The president set his goals even higher for the next four years with a renewed mandate from voters and a reenergized Cabinet.

“Federal agencies must now remove 10 regulations for every regulation they create. This monumental initiative will save Main Street America trillions of dollars and paperwork hours that could be better spent on business growth, long-term investments, and the salaries of new employees.

“To ensure the long-term success of Trump’s deregulatory agenda, Congress must create legislation that supports deregulation. The House Committee on Small Business is working closely with Trump and Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler to write legislation that supports small businesses, increases their access to capital, and keeps the Small Business Administration working for Main Street America.

“Legislation such as the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act, requiring the SBA to investigate how regulations impact small businesses, is crucial to ensure that no taxpayer dollars are used to increase regulations on small businesses.

“We believe small business owners, not unelected bureaucrats, know best how to run their businesses, invest their money, and serve their communities. Through deregulation, we can usher in a Golden Age for the American economy and unleash the potential of Main Street America.”

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