Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Becker Kaufman Becker@emccommunications.com 703-728-0135 STATEMENT: Court ruling on tariffs is welcome news, but small businesses are still paying the price Statement by Small Business for America's Future council member Gabe Hagen, owner of Brick Road Community Corporation in Tempe, Arizona, following the U.S. Court of International Trade's decision striking down a second round of Trump administration tariffs. May 8, 2026 – "For the second time this year, the courts have ruled the administration's tariffs illegal. This is a victory for Main Street and for the rule of law, but while Washington keeps cycling through legal authorities to justify the blanket tariffs, small businesses have been absorbing the costs, losing customers over high prices, and putting hiring on hold. And right now, with inflation still squeezing customers, gas prices climbing, and healthcare premiums going through the roof, Main Street can't afford to wait for relief. "More than $166 billion in refunds are headed back to importers, not the mom and pop shops on Main Street. We paid the tariff in higher costs, lost sales, and canceled hiring. Unless those refunds make their way down to us, we're left paying the price. Importers are not required to pass refunds to us. Policymakers need to make sure the small businesses who absorbed these tariffs, whether we paid Customs directly or paid them in higher invoices on imported goods, have a path to relief. "At Brick Road Coffee in Tempe, Arizona, my business runs entirely on imports like coffee beans from Brazil, Colombia, and Ethiopia, and the cups, lids, and paper goods that go with them. When the tariffs hit, I spent $26,000 upfront stockpiling coffee cups just to get ahead of the increases, and I still ended up absorbing 12 to 15 percent jumps on paper goods. I had to cut $75,000 from my expansion budget for our second location because the unpredictability made it impossible to plan. My foot traffic is still strong, but my loyal customers are buying less per visit because they're feeling the squeeze too. And I'm not alone, a Small Business for America's Future survey found 80% of small businesses affected by tariffs view them as an existential or major threat to their operations. "This ruling is cause for celebration, but it doesn't undo the damage already done. We are ready to work with anyone in Congress willing to deliver solutions and relief. That means refunds that reach the small businesses who actually paid these costs, and an end to a trade policy that keeps treating Main Street as collateral damage. The court sided with small businesses this week. Now Washington must finish the job." To schedule interviews with these small business owners, contact Becker Kaufman at Becker@emccommunications.com or 703-728-0135. ### About Small Business for America's Future Small Business for America's Future is a national coalition of small business owners and leaders advocating for policy solutions that promote a thriving, inclusive economy. We work to ensure that lawmakers prioritize the needs of Main Street, advancing a just and equitable economic framework for small business owners, their employees, and their communities. For more information, visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Nazirah Ahmad nazirah@emccommunications.com 704-290-6869 STATEMENT: One year after Liberation Day, small businesses are worse off Statement by Small Business for America's Future Network Member Daniel Hernandez, owner, Colonial Market and Fusion Pancake House following a press conference hosted by Congresswoman Kelly Morrison (D-MN), a member of the House Committee for Small Business. April 2, 2026 – "Being a small business owner means finding ways to juggle pressures most people never see, but at this point, I am one more bad economic policy decision from losing everything. “My business, Colonial Market, serves three Minneapolis communities, two of them food deserts where grocery access is limited. I'm carrying $1.5 million in business debt and have borrowed another $1.5 million of my personal funds to keep afloat. Over the past year, tariffs have driven up the cost of nearly everything I sell. Shipping costs rose by more than a thousand dollars. After Liberation Day, the price of a pallet of wheat swung wildly from week to week. My revenue dropped 60% and as a result, I had to cut more than half of my staff. "But as devastating as tariffs have been, they are just one of the hits small business owners are absorbing right now. Immigration enforcement drove tens of thousands of people in my community to stay home for months. When customers are afraid to walk through the door, sales plummet. On top of that, healthcare premiums keep climbing, and now most of my employees can't afford their share of coverage, so they go without. And the war in Iran is driving fuel prices through the roof, with gas up a dollar a gallon in just the last month. Oil touches every part of my business’ supply chain, from the farmers growing the food to the trucks hauling it to my stores. Goods that were already more expensive because of tariffs now cost even more as transportation costs climb. "A Small Business for America's Future survey found that 74% of small business owners are worried about whether their business will survive the year. When small businesses in underserved communities go under, jobs disappear, fresh food disappears, and the gathering places that hold neighborhoods together disappear. "Small businesses need stability, predictable trade policy, and leaders who stop treating Main Street like collateral damage." To request an interview with Small Business for America's Future network member Daniel Hernandez or other small business owners, contact Nazirah Ahmad at nazirah@emccommunications.com or 704-290-6869. ### About Small Business for America's Future Small Business for America's Future is a coalition of small business owners and leaders nationwide working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We're committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com (617) 875-6581 The Tax Code Has Two Tiers, Small Business Owners Are Done Accepting It 79% of Small Business Owners Want the Same Tax Rules for Everyone. Policymakers Aren’t Listening WASHINGTON, D.C., April 1, 2026 – During the first tax filing season under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, small business owners say a two-tier tax system is putting them at a competitive disadvantage to large corporations, according to a new national survey of 602 small business owners in the Small Business for America's Future network. The survey drew from a balanced cross-section of the small business community: 28% of respondents identified as Republican, 26% as Democrat, 22% as Independent, and 19% preferred not to say. Just 6% of small business owners say the tax code treats them and large corporations equally. The rest see a system tilted against them, with 83% saying corporate tax loopholes give big companies an unfair edge. The survey also finds overwhelming support for closing the loopholes that let the largest corporations pay far less than the businesses on Main Street. Large corporations use armies of accountants and lawyers to cut their tax bills through strategies most small businesses can’t access, including accelerated depreciation write-offs (55% of respondents were aware of this tactic), offshore profit shifting to tax havens (48%), and the round-tripping loophole (33%). The round-tripping loophole allows large U.S. companies to offshore production to tax-haven subsidiaries and sell products back into the U.S. at reduced tax rates. By one estimate, closing this single loophole would save $69 billion over 10 years, money that could go toward deficit reduction or investments that strengthen small businesses and their communities. “The tax code is broken, and small business owners know exactly who it’s broken for," said Anne Zimmerman, Co-Chair of Small Business for America’s Future and a CPA in Cincinnati, Ohio. “Small business owners don’t have teams of tax lawyers finding ways to cut their bills. They pay what they owe. And then they watch large multinational corporations use loopholes like round-tripping to slash their rate nearly in half. Seventy-nine percent of small business owners are telling Congress to fix this.” Small business owners were clear that corporate tax avoidance hits their businesses and communities directly. Two-thirds (66%) said it puts small businesses that pay their full tax burden at a competitive disadvantage, and 62% believe it shifts a heavier tax burden onto small businesses and individuals. Nearly half (47%) pointed to reduced public investment in local infrastructure like roads and broadband, and 45% cited less funding for education and workforce development. These findings come after Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill, a $3.4 trillion package that made permanent tax cuts primarily benefiting large corporations and wealthy taxpayers. Instead of closing the loopholes that put small businesses at a disadvantage, lawmakers added trillions to the national debt. Small business owners say the priorities are backward. Strong majorities back concrete steps to level the playing field: 79% support closing the round-tripping loophole 72% support the Close the Round-Tripping Loophole Act, legislation targeting large multinational corporations that shift profits from U.S. sales to foreign tax havens, reducing their tax rate to 10.5% instead of the 21% rate domestic businesses pay. The bill would only apply to corporations with over $100 million in revenue and would not affect small businesses. 75% support using the estimated $69 billion in savings to help reduce the federal deficit 54% say Congress should prioritize closing loopholes that benefit large corporations over small businesses, compared to just 2% who want to keep the current system as is Of small small businesses surveyed, 60% employ four or fewer people and 28% operate as sole proprietors. Respondents spanned industries, age groups, and regions across the country. To schedule an interview with a representative from Small Business for America’s Future, contact Janel Knight Trulear at janel@emccommunications.com or 617-875-6581. ### About Small Business for America’s Future Small Business for America’s Future is a national coalition of small business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We’re committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize the nation’s 30 million small businesses to create an economy that works for them, their workers and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook . #SmallBizAF.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com (617) 875-6581 The State of Small Business: Washington-Created Uncertainty is Squeezing Main Street Statement by Small Business for America’s Future Co-Chair Shaundell Newsome, Founder of Sumnu Marketing in Las Vegas, on President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union Address Washington D.C., Feb. 24, 2026 – “Tonight, the president stood before the joint session of Congress at the Capitol and painted a picture of a thriving economy. But for the 30 million small businesses that employ nearly half of America’s workforce, that picture doesn’t match what’s actually happening on Main Street. Small businesses are caught in a double squeeze, with costs rising on one side and customers spending less on the other. That’s not just an economic reality. It’s the result of poor policy choices made in Washington. “The state of small business right now is one of deep concern. Seventy-four percent of small business owners recently reported that they are worried about surviving the year. No amount of stock market gains changes that for the small businesses powering our local communities. The numbers tell the story: the economy grew at just 1.4% at the end of 2025, the country added only 181,000 jobs over the entire year, the slowest pace since 2010, and the unemployment rate sits at 4.3% , up from 4% a year ago. “Small businesses have survived recessions and a pandemic. We don’t need pep talks or stock market cheerleading. We need Washington to stop creating the problems we’re forced to overcome. “That starts with a predictable trade policy that works for Main Street. The Supreme Court just ruled that the administration’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs was unconstitutional. That was a good start, but the damage done by a year of erratic tariffs won’t disappear overnight. Small business owners paid those illegal tariffs from their own pockets, and 80% of affected businesses viewed them as existential or major threats. So instead of searching for workarounds to reimpose those same tariffs, we need lawmakers to find a way to pay back small businesses who operate on thin margins. “We also need a tax code that levels the playing field and supports small business success. Right now, America has a two-tier tax system where large corporations benefit from massive rate cuts and loopholes while small businesses get left behind. Last year, Congress doubled down on that system, adding $3.4 trillion to the deficit while further cementing those corporate advantages. Round-tripping, which costs an estimated $7 billion a year while small businesses pay every cent they owe, is just one example of the corporate loopholes that need closing. “And it’s not just taxes and trade policy draining the bottom line. Small businesses are also being squeezed by inflation and surging healthcare costs . When Congress let the enhanced ACA premium tax credits expire at the end of 2025, it pushed millions of small business owners and their employees off a healthcare affordability cliff. Policymakers need to restore those credits and protect Medicaid. “Tariffs. Taxes. Healthcare. Inflation. It all adds up to an affordability crisis on Main Street. Small businesses employ nearly half the American workforce and bring economic vitality to every community in this country. Bringing down the cost of running a small business isn’t just good for owners, it’s an investment in the entire economy. We represent owners who wake up every day committed to their communities, their employees, and this country. Main Street is ready to work with anyone serious about solving these problems. We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking Washington to stop standing in our way.”  To request an interview with Small Business for America’s Future Co-Chair Shaundell Newsome, contact Janel Knight Trulear at janel@emccommunications.com or 617-875-6581. ### About Small Business for America’s Future Small Business for America’s Future is a national coalition of small business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We’re committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize the nation’s 30 million small businesses to create an economy that works for them, their workers and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook . #SmallBizAF.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com (617) 875-6581 SCOTUS Tariff Ruling is a Good Start for Main Street, but Small Businesses Still Face Mounting Economic Pressures Statement by Small Business for America’s Future council member Katrina Golden, owner of Lil Mama’s Sweets and Treats on the Supreme Court ruling to Strike Down President Trump’s Tariffs that have been Devastating Small Businesses Washington D.C., Feb. 20, 2026 – “Today's Supreme Court ruling affirms that this tariff policy was illegal. The way these tariffs were implemented created chaos for small businesses , upending supply chains, driving up costs and leaving owners with no ability to plan for the future. For small business owners who have spent months struggling under the weight of these tariffs, this decision is a critical first step. But it doesn't undo the damage already done. "The tariffs have been devastating to Main Street. In our survey of over 500 small business owners, 80% of those affected by tariffs viewed them as existential or major threats to their operations. Seventy-one percent expected tariffs to negatively impact consumer spending this holiday season. Among businesses affected, 25% were forced to raise prices and lose customers to big-box retailers, while 35% absorbed costs that shrunk their profit margins. Unlike large corporations with cash reserves to weather these storms, small businesses were forced into impossible choices — raise prices and watch customers flee, or absorb costs and watch margins evaporate. "Small businesses need relief now. They need the money taken from them returned and a clear path forward to rebuild and recover. "We are eager to work with Congress and the administration to ensure small businesses get the support they need to recover from the damage caused by this failed policy. Main Street has shouldered enough. It is time to turn this ruling into real relief for the small businesses that power our communities and our economy." To request an interview with Small Business for America’s Future council member Katrina Golden contact Janel Knight Trulear at janel@emccommunications.com or 617-875-6581. ### About Small Business for America’s Future Small Business for America’s Future is a national coalition of small business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We’re committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize the nation’s 30 million small businesses to create an economy that works for them, their workers and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook . #SmallBizAF.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Nazirah Ahmad nazirah@emccommunications.com 704-290-6869 STATEMENT: Small Businesses Need State Election Authority Protection to Thrive Statement by Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome, Founder and Visionary of Sumnu Marketing Feb. 12, 2026 – “Small businesses depend on stable, well-run state elections to thrive. When our election systems work properly, we can plan for the future, invest with confidence, and serve our communities. The resolution introduced by Sen. Ed Markey is important for Main Street because it safeguards states’ authority to run federal elections.  “With the House passing the SAVE America Act to weaken state election authority, this resolution couldn’t come at a more critical time. Federal interference in state election systems creates uncertainty that Main Street just can’t afford. When people trust election results, when they believe the system is legitimate and responsive, that creates the stability businesses need to grow. Attempts to nationalize elections would undermine that trust and create exactly the kind of uncertainty that hurts Main Street. “ Eighty-nine percent of small business owners say a well-functioning democracy is vital for a strong small business economy. We can’t run successful businesses when the rules governing our most basic voting processes become uncertain. Main Street needs stability, not power grabs. “This resolution protects the state-based election system that has served our country since its founding. That's good policy for businesses.” To request an interview with Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome or other small business owners, contact Nazirah Ahmad at nazirah@emccommunications.com or 704-290-6869. ### About Small Business for America's Future Small Business for America's Future is a coalition of small business owners and leaders nationwide working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We're committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com 617-875-6581 STATEMENT: IRS budget cuts create chaos for small businesses during tax season Small businesses pay their taxes and get a broken IRS in return, says Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Anne Zimmerman Feb. 5, 2026 – “Tax season is going to be a mess . The IRS has been gutted with nearly 20% of its workforce cut in key functions. They're so desperate for staff that they're pulling people from HR and IT departments to process returns and answer phones. These are employees with no tax experience being assigned to handle business tax returns. "I work with small businesses every day. They're already stretched thin dealing with inflation, tariff uncertainty, and skyrocketing healthcare costs. The last thing they need is an IRS that can't answer the phone. Processing centers are understaffed and undertrained, phone lines are overwhelmed, and the services that help small businesses navigate our complex tax code are disappearing right when millions of Americans are filing their returns. Small businesses don't have the bandwidth for this kind of chaos. "When you gut the IRS, the agency can't afford to go after large corporations with teams of lawyers and complicated returns that take years to audit. Research shows audits of large corporations are the first to go when IRS funding is tight because these audits require highly trained personnel and significant time. So they focus on the easy targets, small businesses. “Small business owners pay their taxes. Their tax dollars are supposed to fund an agency that helps them comply with the law and ensures everyone else pays their fair share. Instead, those tax dollars are being wasted on a gutted agency that can’t answer phones, can't process returns efficiently, and can’t go after tax evaders. "While the IRS struggles to function, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill locked in place a tax code that favors large corporations over small businesses. The complexity of the tax code costs small businesses billions in compliance every year. Our own polling shows 91% of small business owners feel disadvantaged compared to large corporations when it comes to the tax code. “A gutted IRS combined with a complex tax code that favors large corporations makes it harder for honest small businesses to comply with the law. We need an IRS that works, and we need a tax code that treats small businesses fairly.” To request an interview with Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Anne Zimmerman or other small business owners, contact Janel Knight Trulear at (617) 875-6581 or janel@emccommunications.com. ### About Small Business for America's Future Small Business for America's Future is a coalition of small business owners and leaders nationwide working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We're committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com 617-875-6581 STATEMENT: Bipartisan House vote moves to reverse Main Street healthcare disaster; Senate must act immediately to extend ACA tax credits as small businesses bleed from premium spikes Small Business for America’s Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome, founder of Sumnu Marketing in Las Vegas: House delivers lifeline with three-year ACA tax credit extension—now Senate must do the same as 5 million small business owners drown in soaring premiums Jan. 8, 2026 – “Today the House took a critical step to provide small businesses with desperately needed relief by passing a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits. This vote proves that when lawmakers put partisanship aside they can deliver solutions. Now the Senate must follow suit and act immediately to stop the healthcare cost disaster from crushing 5 million small business owners that use the ACA marketplaces for health insurance. “Congress allowed these tax credits to expire at the end of 2025, and now small business owners are seeing their premiums skyrocket. We’re not talking about projections anymore. This crisis is happening now. Owners are faced with draining their savings, cutting staff, and making hard choices between healthcare coverage and keeping their doors open. This is not a partisan issue for small business owners. Our surveys have found 87% of us want Congress to make these tax credits permanent. We've signed letters . We’ve made calls. We've told our stories . The House listened. Now we’re demanding that the Senate not abandon us. Pass this extension immediately or millions of small businesses will face existential consequences. “America’s 33 million small businesses employ nearly half the workers in this country. When we struggle, entire communities suffer. The House showed today that relief is possible. Now it’s time for the Senate to finish the job.” To request an interview with Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome or other small business owners, contact Janel Knight Trulear at (617) 875-6581 or janel@emccommunications.com. ### About Small Business for America's Future Small Business for America's Future is a coalition of small business owners and leaders nationwide working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We're committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com 617-875-6581 STATEMENT: 3 weeks until disaster: Senate failed Main Street today, leaving little time before healthcare costs skyrocket Statement from Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome, founder of Sumnu Marketing in Las Vegas: Main Street healthcare cost crisis is real after ACA tax credit vote fails—74% of small business owners fear they won’t survive Dec. 11, 2025 – “Today the Senate failed to provide small businesses with much needed financial relief by refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits. Instead, they abandoned us and added soaring healthcare costs to the economic crisis crushing Main Street this year. We’re beyond disappointed that 5 million small business owners are now almost certain to see their premiums double at the end of the month. “We need Congress to extend these ACA tax credits now so we can plan for next year without fearing a healthcare cost crisis on top of inflation and tariffs, which have cut deep into our bottom lines. Instead, today we got more of the dysfunction that is causing 74% of us to worry about surviving the next 12 months. “This is not a partisan issue for small business owners. Our recent survey found 87% of us want Congress to make these tax credits permanent. We’ve signed letters . We’ve made calls. We’ve told our stories . Now we’re pleading: Congress, do not abandon us. Extend these tax credits before the year runs out or millions of small businesses will face existential consequences. “I know owners who will be forced to close their doors—not because their businesses aren't viable, but because they must have coverage they will no longer be able to afford. Others will lose their workforce to larger companies that can offer benefits, bleeding away years of training and institutional knowledge. “While small businesses face a crisis of neglect, Congress has helped our largest competitors by passing H.R. 1, which handed more than $2 trillion in tax cuts to large corporations and the wealthy while slashing nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and doing nothing to address our healthcare costs. “America's 33 million small businesses employ nearly half the workers in this country. When we struggle, entire communities suffer. Congress had the power to provide relief today and chose not to. We deserve better.” To request an interview with Small Business for America's Future Co-chair Shaundell Newsome or other small business owners, contact Janel Knight Trulear at (617) 875-6581 or janel@emccommunications.com. ### About Small Business for America's Future Small Business for America's Future is a coalition of small business owners and leaders nationwide working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We're committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize Main Street by advancing a just and equitable economic framework that works for small business owners, their employees and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.