On March 22, Small Business Majority sent a letter to Senate and House leadership calling on Congress to provide immediate grant assistance to small businessses being harmed by COVID-19.
Policy Statements
Colorado Director Hunter Railey testifed in support of the Colorado Affordable Health Care Option, which would ensure that Colorado's entrepreneurs and small business employees have access to more affordable health coverage choices, while also helping to control costs throughout the state.
As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise throughout the country, so does its impact on our economy. From stock market dips to decreased foot traffic in thriving neighborhoods, it's vital that our federal and state officials enact short and long-term policies that will offset these effects, particularly for our small business community, whose success is critical to our nation's economic health. Focusing on key policy issues will help support America's job creators.
Small Business Majority submitted a letter of support to Chairman Gerg Harris (IL-D) on HB 4094, which would extend short-term, limited duration health insurance from the current 181 days to 365 days with the chance to renew coverage for up to three years.
Small Business Majority submitted a letter of support to the House Committee on Finance on HB 1109, corporate income tax; combined reporting requirements; disclosures. Currently, many multi-state corporations are able to take advantage of accounting measures to reduce their state tax bills by shifting their profits to a state that tax it at lower rates, giving them an unfair advantage over small businesses. HB 1109 would level the playing field for small businesses in Virginia that are unable to use loopholes to lower their tax bills.
Today, Virginia small business owner, Sandra Leibowitz, submitted a letter of support for HB 825 and SB 770, paid family and medical leave program. Implementing this state-run leave program helps small businesses to compete with larger companies by retaining employees while allowing those who need time off to take it without worrying about the cost.
On January 27, 2020, Small Business Majority's Government Affairs Manager, Awesta Sarkash, testified before Virginia's Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor, in support of SB 404, health insurance; short-term limited-duration medical plans. Protecting the individual marketplace is important to entrepreneurs because many self-employed individuals and small business employees rely on the marketplace to purchase coverage.
Small Business Majority submitted a letter of support to the House Finance Committee on HB 1435, a refundable earned income tax credit for low-income taxpayers. This bill would support entrepreneurs, as well as many low-wage small business employees, by allowing low-income individuals to claim more money. This would put money back into their pockets and help grow their businesses, as well as their customers and local economies.
On January 15, Small Business Majority filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to accept and quickly render a decision in the case of Texas v. U.S., which has challenged the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. This is necessary because the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently declared the individual mandate is unconstitutional and ordered a lower court to reconsider whether the remaining components of the ACA may remain law.
Small Business Majority has created a comprehensive state policy agenda to ensure entrepreneurship is at the center of a thriving and inclusive economy in Missouri. The state’s more than 520,000 small businesses employ 1.1 million people (about half of the private workforce) and created more than 32,000 jobs.