Advocacy in action: Small business owners connect with their representatives during August recess

In recent months, Congress passed legislation that will make healthcare coverage more expensive for small businesses and failed to take other important steps to reduce healthcare costs. This follows an extension of tax laws that do not provide Main Street businesses with meaningful tax relief. To help ensure that entrepreneurs have a seat at the table and that their concerns are heard by policymakers, Small Business Majority helped small business owners from across the nation take advantage of August recess to meet with their representatives and to advocate on important topics including relief from the high costs of healthcare.

During August, small business owners met with officials like U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) and staff from U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd’s (R-Colo.) office to discuss the impact that more than $1.1 trillion cuts made to Medicaid through the One Big Beautiful Act will have on their small businesses. An analysis by Small Business Majority and Georgetown University found that one-third of all people enrolled in Medicaid nationwide are connected to small businesses. What’s more, 20% of small business owners, employees and their children or other family members are covered by Medicaid. With decreased federal funding, millions of small business owners will face higher healthcare costs and many will lose coverage.

Entrepreneurs also met with elected officials and their staffs to advocate for the extension of the enhanced premium tax credits, which roughly 5 million small business owners rely on to lower monthly premiums for health insurance purchased through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. For small business owners like Sydney Jackson-Clockston, owner of Citrine Unlimited in Denver, who met with U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette's (D-Colo.) office, the tax credit has not only ensured she can afford monthly costs but also access timely healthcare services. “I get my health coverage through Connect for Health Colorado and I receive the enhanced PTC which covers 90% of my $400 monthly premium. This is very important as I need health coverage to recover from being hit by a car as a pedestrian. I’m able to keep running my business while receiving the healthcare I need,” Sydney said.

In addition to scheduling individual meetings with policymakers, Small Business Majority also hosted several larger events during recess across the nation. In Colorado, Small Business Majority, in partnership with Adelante Community Development, held a small business roundtable with U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) to discuss small business concerns including affordable healthcare, the nation’s budget and more. In North Carolina, Small Business Majority, alongside Manpower Development Corp Inc., the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center and the North Carolina Rural Center, hosted an event in which small business owners gained insights on how to navigate current policy changes and how to access key resources for entrepreneurs from North Carolina state Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-North Carolina), and a representative from U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis’ (R-North Carolina) office and other officials.

Shifts in tariff policy and rising costs were also a concern small business owners shared with their representatives during recess meetings. This year, policymakers have made significant changes to tariff policies, resulting in higher taxes on imports, supply change problems and increased costs for small businesses. Small business owners met with officials like U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico), U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-New York), staff from U.S Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s (D-Ill.) office and others to discuss the impact of tariffs on their businesses, including decreased revenue, hiring freezes, potential layoffs, higher costs for consumers and increased uncertainty. Small business owners also raised concerns that with constrained budgets due to growing expenses, the need to access capital will grow and could lead to a spike in predatory lending.

"We have a real concern since we’re a coffee shop, there’s only so much we can pass on to our customers without affecting the neighborhoods we seek to serve and our mission to make quality coffee accessible….Small margins made smaller can have some unintended consequences, especially for businesses like ours that are deeply tied to our communities,” Nikki Bravo, owner of Momentum Coffee in Chicago said. 

With frequent policy changes continuing to impact the small business landscape, it is critical that small business owners’ voices and experiences are at the forefront of legislative discussions. Small business owners are the best messengers to help their representatives understand the unique challenges entrepreneurs face, which is why Small Business Majority remains dedicated to supporting the small business community and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to engage directly with decision makers and ensure their voices are heard.