Press Releases

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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com 617-875-6581 STATEMENT: ‘We Don’t Have Time to Wait’: Struggling Small Business Owners Urge Congress to Extend ACA Tax Credits Before Year-End Expiration Triggers Cost Crisis Statement from Small Business for America’s Future member Katrina Golden, a Georgia bakery and coffee shop owner: This week’s Senate vote on the fate of ACA health care tax credits is a make-or-break moment for many small businesses already crushed by tariffs and inflation Dec. 9, 2025 – “Congress has only days to act before they leave town for the holidays and the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expire in three weeks. If they don’t, healthcare premiums will double for roughly 5 million small business owners who depend on them. That’s why I joined nearly 200 small business owners across the country in signing a letter this week demanding action. Without it, we’re facing a healthcare cost crisis that threatens small business survival during the make-or-break holiday season. “Our recent survey found that 87% of small business owners want Congress to make these credits permanent. If the ACA tax credits expire, more than one in three small business owners say the combined pressure of rising healthcare costs and other economic factors threatens their ability to stay in business. And, more than 80% said the expiration of the tax credits and the resulting increasing premium prices put them at a disadvantage with their corporate competitors because workers will leave to seek jobs with lower cost health insurance. These aren’t abstract numbers—they’re real businesses having to make painful choices that will hurt entire communities. “I’m one of those businesses. I opened my first brick-and-mortar bakery and coffee shop last year. My employees rely on the exchange for insurance because I can’t afford to offer benefits. I’ve invested in training them, and they’re good workers. But I know they’ll leave for jobs that offer insurance if they see their premiums spike because Congress allows the tax credits to expire. “This is a crucial season for small businesses’ economic success. Far too many of us are already questioning whether Christmas is cancelled because tariffs and inflation have raised our costs while taking money out of our customers’ pockets. We can’t also absorb a healthcare costs crisis. Congress isn’t helping. They passed H.R. 1, providing more than $2 trillion in tax cuts to large corporations and the wealthy without addressing the ACA tax credits and slashing nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid. Our big business competitors got billions in breaks while small businesses are getting crushed. “America’s 33 million small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but we’re being tested like never before. Tariffs, inflation, and now skyrocketing healthcare costs, are squeezing us from every direction. We can’t absorb all of the economic pain caused by misguided policies. Congress must address high healthcare costs now and give Main Street the stability we need to keep employing people and supporting our communities.”  ### 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. #SmallBizAF.

December 9, 2025 Protect Main Street: Extend ACA Tax Credits and Keep Healthcare Affordable for Small Businesses Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, representing 99.9% of all U.S. businesses and employing nearly half of the private workforce. We are the engine of innovation, job creation, and economic growth that sustains communities nationwide. As network members of Small Business for America's Future, we speak for small business owners across the country facing an unprecedented healthcare affordability crisis. Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits—relied on by roughly 5 million small business owners –are set to expire on December 31. Without immediate Congressional action, the consequences will cause severe financial strain threatening our stability and growth. Recent Small Business for America's Future survey data reveals the overwhelming support for the ACA tax credits among small business owners and the devastating impact on small businesses if these tax credits at the end of the year: 87% want Congress to make them permanent 84% are concerned about their ability to afford healthcare if the credits expire More than a third (35%) would face severe financial strains threatening their operations When healthcare costs spike, small businesses lose their competitive edge. Unlike large corporations with deep resources, we operate on thin margins. We cannot absorb sudden cost increases without cutting jobs, raising prices, or losing valued employees to large companies offering better benefits. This crisis compounds existing pressures—tariffs, inflation, and a tax system that favors the wealthy. Congress passed H.R. 1, delivering $2+ trillion in tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy, while failing to extend ACA tax credits and slashing nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid. These policies create a two-tiered economy that boosts big business, and gives Main Street scraps leaving us vulnerable and struggling to survive. Consider the real impact on small businesses across America: A Missouri government contract business owner's health monthly premiums will spike to $700 from $129 on January 1st. She has a number of health conditions and is considering getting a part-time job or closing her business of 11 years because it's too costly for her to afford monthly premiums for her health insurance without these ACA tax credits that are set to expire. A personal finance business owner in North Carolina will pay over $400 more a month on the health insurance marketplace on January 1st. This will divert money she planned to invest and expand her business. The success of America's economy depends on the success of its small businesses. We employ your constituents, strengthen local communities, and drive innovation. We are not asking for special treatment—we are asking for fairness and stability. Congress and the Administration must act now to extend ACA tax credits and keep healthcare affordable for small businesses. Sincerely, Alabama Kingsley Iyobebe, K & S Financial Group, Inc., Montgomery, AL Henry McMullen, Mac BBQ Place, Aliceville, AL Arizona Jonathan Eagan, Copper City Spirits, Phoenix, AZ Gabe Hagen, Brick Road Community Corporation, Tempe, AZ Melissa Harlan, Drink Me! Tea Room, Tempe, AZ Timothy Lewis, OPR LLC, Cave Creek, AZ Richard Snyder, KirbyDerby LLC, Tucson, AZ California Matthew Aarsvold, Qx Acquisition Corp., Laguna Beach, CA Nii-Laaye Abbey, Nijan Group, Los Angeles, CA Allison Allain, Plumb Crazy Inc., Monrovia, CA Michael Brown, Cantara Cellars, Flat Fish Brewing Company, Camarillo, CA Jay Chansky, Economic Packaging Corp, Newark, CA Anna Chavez, Vez Guitar Academy, Los Angeles, CA Jim Dobyns, NXTGEN Signs, Carlsbad, CA Genee Farr, Costello Solutions LLC, Los Angeles, CA Rebecca Gardiner, VIB Network, San Diego, CA Wilton Guevara, La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill-Sanbrunollc, San Bruno, CA Alan Irvine, Scott's Sacramento River Inc. , Sacramento, CA Sherman Tan King, Better Housing Policies, San Francisco, CA Denise Lee, Snapology, Pleasant Hill, CA Patricia McFall, Poppyfield FCCH, Cameron Park, CA Shery Mendoza, Bulacan Bakeshop & Catering, Los Angeles, CA Engret Moore, Oakland Annex, Oakland, CA Athena Naranjo, Genesis Programs Inc., Ventura, CA Andrea Ruth, ALR Consulting, LLC, Pacifica, CA Erin Sullivan, HHDL of Santa Cruz DBA Innovative Care Advocates, Watsonville, CA Marcia Whitfield, Clean Food Delivered, North Hollywood, CA Orion Zemene, Fresh Brand Foods LLC, San Jose, CA Colorado Bayard Heroy, COHS Financial Services Inc dba H & R Block, Durango, CO Craig Jacobs, Prism Specialties of Colorado, Parker, CO Mark Lopez, MDLI Services Inc., Arvada, CO Tree Sorrells, Alpine Remediation, Inc., Golden, CO Masaru Torito, Kokoro Restaurant, Arvada, CO Delaware James Boyd, 4 Shore Inc., Millsboro, DE District of Columbia Yankee M Butte, Surplus Recovery Org, Washington, DC Florida Corneille Chevalier, Lord & Chevalier, Jacksonville, FL Matthias Joesil, Alien94 LLC, Jacksonville, FL Holly Jones, Clearwater, FL Bonnie Mclean, Spirit Gate Medicine, Pensacola, FL Sergey Nikitin, Emarine LLC, Fort Lauderdale, FL Evelyn Pitts, BBG Concrete & Finishing Inc., Deland, FL Teresa Roberson, The Rene Roberson, Holiday, FL Marcela Roggenburg, Marcela Roggenburg LLC DBA Safety Matters, Deerfield Beach, FL David Strickland II, Strickland Supplies Inc., Jacksonville, FL Georgia Patrick Brown, Sierra International LLC, Conyers, GA André Cross, Atlanta, GA Katrina Golden, Lil Mama's Sweets and Treats, Grovetown, GA Shandra Grace, Air Hair Salon, Grovetown, GA Michelle Murdock, Core Green Technologies, Suwanee, GA Roberto Perez, Woodchip Art in Wood, Ringgold, GA Richard Stone, SamRos Enterprises Inc., Waynesboro, GA Dr. Angelica Thompson, Data Works Inc., Savannah, GA Steven Williams, Atlanta Outsourced Service Professionals, Powder Springs, GA Sandra Wills, The Graphics House LLC, Atlanta, GA Diana Wilson, Blue Moon Risings LLC, Sparta, GA Idaho David Feller, Boise Networks, Meridian, ID Marcella Medor, MarCom LLC, Idaho Falls, ID Illinois Dyann Berndt, Dyann L. Berndt CSR, RPR, Berwyn, IL Sue Harrawood, Peace of Mind Virtual Assistance, North Aurora, IL Stuart Hermodson, Dini's Ice Cream Shoppe LLC, Medinah, IL Eunice Miller Muhammad, Shifa Living PLLC, Villa Park, IL Maxine Mitchell, Applied Real Estate Analysis (AREA) Inc., Chicago, IL Paul Edward Montador, The Scotsman's Kitchen & Bakery, Urbana, IL Nancy Nancy, Ergonomic Solutions Inc., Round Lake, IL Nat Rosasco, Olive Street Design LLC, Villa Park, IL Indiana Jessica Branik, Nursing Shoutouts, Hammond, IN Louisiana Roger Jones Jr, Jones Kingdom Kids Daycare and Learning Center, New Orleans, LA Maryland John Carter, Mission Baking LLC, Baltimore, MD Kimberlee Driggs, D2 LLC DBA: D2 Sitework, Rockville, MD Connie Mazur, CyberVillage Networkers Inc., Ellicott City, MD Simson Paul, Mister Organic Cafe, Hagerstown, MD Joe Reddix, The Reddix Group, Hanover, MD Massachusetts Paul Dupuis, Researchware Inc., Randolph, MA Sondra Fabiano, Fabiano Oil Corp., Wrentham, MA Legrand Lindor, LMI Textiles, Milton, MA Christopher Schaffner, The Green Engineer Inc., Concord, MA Douglas Scheffel, Sajawi Corporation, Littleton, MA Steven Weissman, Westborough, MA Michigan Johnnie Edward Bellows, Aura Company LLC, Ann Arbor, MI Marja Farrow, Farrow Group Inc, Detroit, MI Paula Guthat, Cinema Detroit, Harper Woods, MI Carrin Harris, Blitz Proto, Farmington Hills, MI Carol Huls, DittoForm Michigan LLC, Huntington Woods, MI De Lorenco Jackson, Damajha Systems, Lawton, MI Karen Kloska, AWCCO USA Inc., Romeo, MI Ron Kurnik, Superior Coffee Roasting Co. Inc., Sault Sainte Marie, MI Troy Morris, Kall Morris Inc, Marquette, MI Gary Ringer, Eco-Environmental Solutions, Redford, MI Minnesota Jay Clark, Peace of Mind Counseling, La Crescent, MN Leila Janikamalvand, Leila's Brow Art LLC, Minneapolis, MN Timothy O’Brien, Green Mikl Reataurant and bar, Saint Paul, MN Kari O’Brien, River Shore Catering, Hastings, MN Eric Saksa, Union Optical, Duluth, MN Garrick Villaume, Physical Systems Inc., South Saint Paul, MN Missouri Kerri VanMeveren, Amazing Traditions LLC, Cleveland, MO Mississippi Barbara Coatney, Time Touch Take LLC, Waveland, MS Nebraska Gladys Harrison, Big Mama's Kitchen & Catering Inc., Omaha, NE New Jersey Charles Jerome do Francis, Guybarb Health & Wellness Medical Services, Jackson, NJ Patrick Jjemba, DE & P Technical Services LLC, Marlton, NJ Brian Kaplowitz, MAK Solutions LLC, Bridgewater, NJ Michael Menz, IEC, Runnemede, NJ Trent Oliver, Blue Telescope Laboratories Ltd, Maplewood, NJ North Carolina Ja'Net Adams, EMACK Consulting LLC, Kernersville, NC Jerome Bell Sr, RAJJ Investment Properties Inc., Fayetteville, NC Manley Bradshaw, Fun Cycles Inc. , Valdese, NC Ray Forrest, Difference Driven, Mooresville, NC Steven Gianquinto, The Window Shade and Shutter, Huntersville, NC Latoya Parker, INNERGY Educational Consulting Company LLC, , NC Ommeni Richardson, Elizabeth City, NC Debra Talley, TalleyUp Accounting & Financial Services LLC, Henderson, NC Mel Wright, The Wright Village, Raleigh, NC Nevada Jenay Aiksnoras, Lake Tahoe Yoga & Bliss Experiences, Stateline, NV Tonda Benge, Professional Dog Mom LLC, Stateline, NV Adero Fleming, 3rd Eye Productions, Las Vegas, NV Shaundell Newsome, Sumnu Marketing, Las Vegas, NV Effie Patterson, Clean Cut & Trimmed, Las Vegas, NV Eve Storm, Start PAC LLC, Las Vegas, NV Andrea Vigil, Allegiant Electric LLC, Las Vegas, NV Jack Vosburgh, Vosburgh Ventures LLC, Las Vegas, NV New York Justine Barda, Telescope Film, Brooklyn, NY Ronald Brownell, Raloid Tool Co Inc., Stillwater, NY David Dodds, Dodds & Associates LLC, Manlius, NY Efrain Gorre Efrain Gorre, Continental Trading and Services, Syosset, NY Michael Gilly, Clean Up Your Books, Corning, NY Ricky Gordon, Deeds Not Words LLC, Brooklyn, NY Patrick Hall, Élan Flowers, New York, NY Carolyn Harvey, All God's Promises, Brooklyn, NY Henrietta M Kwateng, Mail N' Parcel Inc., Nanuet, NY Jovino Morales, Lafayette Services Inc., Buffalo, NY Olu Olojede, Jedol Associates Inc., West Hempstead, NY Jane Parmel, Cardinal Profit Strategies, Rockaway Park, NY Liliana Petrova, The Petrova Experience LLC, Brooklyn, NY Srinivasan Rangarajan, Boomi Environmental LLC, New York, NY Ohio Tim DeHart, Triple A Pro Services, Franklin, OH Chris Fluharty, Fluharty Construction, Mentor, OH Todd Hamblin, Global Aerospace Design Corp, Cincinnati, OH Lois Jones-Ellis, Jones Rehab Inc., Canton, OH John Keller, Manning & Associates CPAs LLC, Dayton, OH Anne Zimmerman, Zimmerman & Co CPAs, Cincinnati, OH Oregon Aimee Iverson, Iverson-Miller Audio Productions LLC , Portland, OR Lillian Stevenson, Berrien Concrete LLC, Salem, OR Oklahoma Karen Kemper, BlueMoon Gliders, Afton, OK Rose Washington-Jones, Tulsa Economic Development Corporation, Tulsa, OK Pennsylvania William Belknap, AEONRG LLC, Downingtown, PA Raymond Drago, Drive Systems Technology Inc., Glen Mills, PA Richard Green, Green's Auto Mart Inc., Towanda, PA Walter Rowen , Susquehanna Glass Co., Columbia, PA Lisa Weissbord, William J. Beck & Co., Philadelphia, PA Puerto Rico Luis Cordero Toledo, Campo Alegre Dairy Inc., Arecibo, PR South Carolina Cynthia Everette, ABC Locksmiths LLC, Greenville, SC Kelly Shaver, MindCette LLC, Charleston, SC Tennessee Christine Greenwood, Memphis Southern School of Court Reporting LLC, Memphis, TN Scott Shepherd, Shepherd Fitness LLC, Ooltewah, TN Texas Ivan Benard, Houston, TX April Blair, Blair Precision & Assoc Inc., Dallas, TX Tess Cahigas, Seniors 2000 Health and Activities Centers, San Antonio, TX Micau Chambless, Precision Assured Manufacturing, Austin, TX Diane Cooper, Self, Azle, TX Coretta Graham, Graham Legal Services, Corpus Christi, TX Jennifer Holm, Challenges and Change PLLC, McAllen, TX Janice Jucker, Three Brothers Bakery, Houston, TX Martin Linares, Linares Machine Services, South Houston, TX Elizabeth Mack, The Thrival Company, Austin, TX Rebecca Melancon, Local Business Institute, Austin, TX Mark Olinger, The Big Bear Group LLC, Pittsburg, TX Adam Orman, L'Oca d'Oro, Austin, TX Utah William Fisher, Fisher Writing and Editing Services, Salt Lake City, UT Kevin Overby, K&S Plumbing, Salt Lake City, UT Virginia Robert Jack, BeNimble Consulting LLC, Mineral, VA Carlisle Levine, BLE Solutions LLC, Arlington, VA James Oyler, GEN, Roanoke, VA Jason Smith, Absolute EMC LLC, Manassas Park, VA Ta-Neha Smith, Nehastylzz, Richmond, VA Michelle Whitted, Harmony Business Solutions, Stafford, VA Washington David Bergeron, Art Works Auto LLC, University Place, WA Jill Nelson, WunderPetz Pet Care, Vancouver, WA Mary Ann Van Dinter, Car Emporium of Spokane, Spokane, WA West Virginia Dee Nazzaro, Dr. Dee Nazzaro PLLC, Wheeling, WV Wisconsin Kelly Berry, Learn Start Grow LLC, Altoona, WI Daniel Guerra Jr, Altus Inc., Madison, WI Hugo Ramirez, Frio LLC, Appleton, WI

Christmas Cancelled on Main Street? 74% of Small Business Owners Fear They Won’t Survive the Year as Make-or-Break Holiday Season Begins New national survey finds that among holiday-dependent small businesses, 76% say customers have less money to spend and 66% expect worse sales as tariffs, soaring healthcare costs, and persistent inflation drive affordability crisis that dampens demand WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 19, 2025 – A new Small Business for America’s Future survey reveals a crisis on Main Street as small business owners enter the holiday season facing mounting economic pressures. Washington policymakers have compounded the crisis by failing to address soaring healthcare costs and persistent inflation while actively making economic conditions worse through erratic tariff policies and a six-week government shutdown that delivered no relief. “For too many small businesses across America, Christmas is cancelled this year, and Washington has given Main Street a lump of coal,” said Gabe Hagen, owner of Brick Road Community Corporation, a coffee roasting company in Tempe, Arizona. “We’re heading into our most critical season not with optimism but with fear. Fear that our customers can’t afford to spend, fear that policy failures are crushing our ability to compete, and fear that we won’t survive another year of this economic squeeze.” The survey of 1,048 small business owners paints a stark picture. Twenty-one percent of respondents are currently concerned about having to close their business entirely and as they look ahead, the alarm deepens: 74% are worried about their business surviving through the next 12 months. Six in 10 describe the business climate this holiday season as unfavorable, and 59% expect sales to be worse this holiday season compared to last year. The crisis is even more acute for businesses in sectors that depend heavily on holiday season success. Among the 334 small businesses surveyed that are in retail, food & beverages, entertainment, transportation, and advertising/marketing, 80% are concerned about surviving the next 12 months. Three-quarters (76%) say their customers have less money to spend compared to last year, and two-thirds (66%) expect worse holiday sales than last year. The very businesses that need strong holiday sales to survive the year are facing the steepest headwinds. A Make-or-Break Season Arrives at the Worst Possible Time Traditionally, the holiday season has been the moment when many small businesses go from red to black in their books—the crucial business quarter that determines whether they finish the year in profit or at a loss. Nearly 8 in 10 small businesses say this upcoming holiday season is important for their overall profit this year, up from 70% last year, and the majority rely on holiday shopping for at least one-quarter of their annual revenue. With 98% of retailers being small businesses, the next two months will be especially consequential for Main Street. “We’re not entering this crucial season with confidence. We’re arriving battered by a year of policy decisions that have pressured us from every direction," Hagen said. “Now we face a holiday season where our customers are suffering from the same affordability crisis we are. Tariffs drive up our costs and their prices. Inflation means every input we buy costs more and every household budget is stretched thinner. Healthcare premiums are about to spike in January. It’s a vicious cycle, and the result is predictable: businesses like ours can’t survive when our customers can’t afford to spend.” The survey reveals how the affordability crisis is crushing small businesses right when they need customers most: Customers can’t afford to spend: 68% of small business owners report their customers have less money to spend compared to last year. As prices rise due to tariffs and inflation, customers are stretched thin and focusing on essentials—not holiday shopping. Demand is collapsing: 58% of businesses report decreased demand for their products or services compared to last year, with nearly one-third saying demand has decreased significantly. Small businesses are losing customers who simply can’t afford what they’re selling. Tariffs forcing hard choices: 72% of small businesses have been impacted by tariffs, either forced to raise prices and lose customers to larger retailers (25%) or absorb costs that shrink profit margins (35%). Another 71% expect tariffs to negatively impact consumer spending this holiday season. Small Business Growth Grinds to a Halt The economic climate has frozen growth on Main Street. The survey reveals that expansion and hiring have virtually stopped: Only 5% of small businesses are actively hiring and expanding. 15% have put growth and hiring plans on hold. 16% are cutting back on staff or operations. 21% are concerned about having to close their business. Just 9% plan to hire or expand in the next six months. Notably, 65% of survey respondents have operated their businesses for more than 10 years, so they have seen many business cycles. And 57% are pessimistic about the economy for small businesses over the next year, with 38% very pessimistic. "Small businesses employ nearly half the people in this country. We are the backbone of the American economy, and our success is everyone’s success. But right now, soaring healthcare costs, inflation, and tariff pressure are raising prices and threatening our very existence. When small businesses are struggling to survive, millions of jobs, families, and communities are at risk,” said Co-chair Anne Zimmerman, founder and owner of Zimmerman & Co CPAs Inc. in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio. “Congress needs to focus on policies that will actually help us. That means extending the ACA tax credits so businesses and their employees aren’t hit with massive healthcare cost spikes. The Supreme Court needs to strike down these tariff policies that are crushing small businesses. And Washington needs to stop adding dysfunction and start addressing the real problems facing Main Street. When small businesses succeed, everyone benefits. But when Washington’s policies cancel Christmas for Main Street, entire communities suffer.” The national survey of 1,048 small business owners in the Small Business for America’s Future network was conducted from Oct. 24-Nov. 5, 2025. To request an interview with Small Business for America’s Future leadership or a small business owner in your area, 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 business owners and leaders 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. For more information, 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 No winners, only losers as shutdown ends: Small businesses face make-or-break holiday season as Congress fails to deliver economic relief Statement by Small Business for America’s Future Co-Chair Shaundell Newsome, owner of SumNu Marketing in Las Vegas, on the end the government shutdown and a new survey showing 3 in 4 small businesses are worried about survival through next year Washington D.C., Nov. 12, 2025 – “The government shutdown is ending, but small businesses are still facing the same mounting economic pressures that were squeezing them before this crisis began. The shutdown didn’t solve the healthcare cost spike looming Jan. 1. It didn’t address tariffs driving up costs. It didn’t make operating expenses any less expensive. And it added weeks of disruption and uncertainty on top of an already challenging economic environment. “Here’s the reality for small businesses right now: the stakes couldn’t be higher this holiday season. Nearly 8 in 10 small businesses say the upcoming season is important for their overall profit this year, up from 70% last year, and the majority rely on holiday shopping for at least one-quarter of their annual revenue. With 98% of retailers being small businesses, what happens this year will reverberate across Main Street America. A soon-to-be-released Small Business for America’s Future survey of 1,048 small business owners nationwide reveals the depth of the challenge. Six in 10 say the business climate is unfavorable for small businesses this holiday season. Fifty-nine percent expect worse holiday sales compared to last year. And nearly three in four (74%) are concerned about their business surviving through the next 12 months. “These numbers point to a crisis on Main Street driven by Washington’s policy failures. Erratic and misguided economic decisions are either making matters worse or failing to address the real economic problems facing small businesses and their customers. Tariffs are forcing impossible choices between raising prices and losing customers or absorbing costs and shrinking margins. Inflation means every input cost is higher. Healthcare premiums are set to spike in January without congressional action to extend the ACA tax credits that millions of small business owners depend on for affordable coverage. And as prices rise, customers are stretched thin, struggling to afford basic necessities, let alone holiday shopping. “This is bad news for everyone because small businesses are the backbone of the economy. We employ half of America’s private sector workforce. We power local communities. When small businesses succeed, everyone benefits. But we cannot keep shouldering the burden of misguided economic policies and congressional inaction. “For too many small businesses, Christmas may be cancelled this year.” ### 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 Small business owners urge Supreme Court to strike down disastrous tariff policies that are forcing Main Street to hike prices and stall expansion As Supreme Court hears oral arguments on president’s tariff powers, Small Business for America’s Future members detail how unpredictable trade policies are forcing price hikes, hiring freezes, and slashed expansion budgets across Main Street WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 5, 2025 – Small business owners from across the country rallied near the Supreme Court Wednesday alongside lawmakers including Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, urging the court to strike down the disastrous tariffs forcing them to raise prices, freeze hiring, and abandon expansion plans. Small Business for America’s Future Council Member Katrina Golden spoke at the press conference as justices heard oral arguments on the legality of the president’s emergency tariff powers. “I would hire two additional employees if I was confident I could sustain them long-term, but the constant trade policy changes make that far too risky. For example, one of my suppliers warned me that the cost of coffee cups could jump from $225 to as high as $400 per case,” said Golden, co-owner of Lil Mama’s Sweets & Treats in Augusta, Ga. “Like many small business owners, I want to expand and hire, but that kind of unpredictability and the rising costs caused by tariffs make it difficult to maintain stability.” The tariffs under Supreme Court review are devastating Main Street businesses. While large corporations can relocate production, absorb costs or pass expenses to consumers, small businesses operate on razor-thin margins, which leaves them few options. They’re forced to raise prices, slash staffing, or abandon growth plans, decisions that threaten their survival. A national Small Business for America’s Future survey found that 78% of small business owners expect tariffs to increase costs for imported materials and goods, 71% anticipate raising prices to offset those costs, and 69% say the president has “moved too quickly and overreached with his policy changes.” Wednesday’s Supreme Court tariff hearing comes as small businesses face mounting economic pressures heading into the critical holiday season. Business owners are simultaneously battling inflation, rising healthcare costs as ACA premium tax credits expire in December, and the unpredictability created by a government shutdown. For businesses already operating on razor-thin margins, tariffs are an enormous burden forcing them to raise prices, freeze hiring, and abandon growth plans during what should be their busiest season. Small business owners during the event urged the Supreme Court to strike down the tariffs and provide relief. “This case should be called Small Businesses v. Trump,” said Sen. Markey. “Small businesses are refusing to let Trump destroy everything they have worked for. Trump is not a king. His tariffs are illegal and unconstitutional. His reckless policies have led to economic chaos, and they must end. I have been fighting to provide relief to small businesses being crushed by Trump’s tariffs, and now I am calling on the Supreme Court to do what is legally, morally, and economically right. The Supreme Court must stand with small businesses, rein in President Trump’s king-like power grab, and stop him from turning Main Street into Pain Street.”  Small Business for America’s Future Council members who attended the rally described the impact of tariffs on their businesses: Gabe Hagen (Brick Road Community Corporation, Tempe, Ariz.): “I just opened a new location, but tariffs forced me to slash my expansion budget by $75,000 so I could have money to cover rising expenses. I also held back on hiring the staff I needed because I can’t predict what costs will look like next month. While big corporations can absorb these hits without breaking stride, small businesses like mine operate on margins so thin that this unpredictability makes it nearly impossible to plan ahead or grow.” Hugo Ramirez Rivas (Frio Mexican Treats, Appleton, Wis.): “My expenses for cups are up $300 per month, and revenue is down $8,000 compared to last year. I’ve had to raise prices on my customers and cut back on community giving — things that go against everything I built this business to do. I wanted to hire more staff this year but with tariffs constantly changing, I can’t afford to take that risk. Small businesses like mine need stability to survive, not policies that shift every few weeks.” Walt Rowen, co-chair, Small Business for America’s Future (Susquehanna Glass Co., Columbia, Pa.): “My business depends on imported materials from China to produce over 100,000 ceramics every year. We’ve been hit with multiple rounds of tariff increases that are eating into our profitability and threatening our long-term stability. When tariffs can change overnight, we can’t give our customers reliable pricing, and we can’t plan for next season. That’s not how you build a sustainable business. That’s how you lose one.” To schedule an interview with a small business owner, 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 national coalition of business owners and leaders 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. For more information, visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com (617) 875-6581 As government shutdown drags on and open enrollment begins, small businesses face healthca re cost crisis from expiring ACA tax credits  On the eve of open enrollment and with no end to the government shutdown in sight, small business owners—who represent 25% of all ACA marketplace enrollees—and Rep. Beyer hold press call to discuss survey showing 84% of small businesses worry about affording healthcare next year and 87% want the expiring tax credits made permanent WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 31, 2025 —U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA-08) joined small business owners from across the country today at a press conference to warn that Main Street faces severe economic fallout if Congress fails to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which are at the center of the ongoing government shutdown. Without immediate Congressional action, roughly 5 million small business owners who use the ACA tax credits could face devastating premium increases. A recent national survey of 620 small business owners conducted by Small Business for America’s Future found that 84% are concerned about affording healthcare in 2026 if the tax credits expire, and 87% want Congress to make the credits permanent. The press conference comes as open enrollment begins Saturday amid a government shutdown fight in Congress centered on the very tax credits small business owners rely on, where there has been no movement to resolve the issue. Without Congressional action, the Kaiser Family Foundation projects ACA marketplace premiums will double next year , with the average enrollee’s annual costs rising from $888 to $1,904 . “Congress needs to understand what’s at stake,” said Walt Rowen, Small Business for America’s Future Co-Chair and owner of Susquehanna Glass Co., a third-generation family-owned glass decorating business in Columbia, PA. “When my employees lose affordable healthcare, they look for different jobs that offer healthcare benefits. I’m competing with corporations that can self-insure and when premiums spike, my business gets hurt. This isn’t just about healthcare. It’s about whether Main Street survives.” Without an extension, many small business owners say they’ll face impossible choices. More than a third report that rising premiums would cause severe financial strain threatening their operations, while almost one in four say they’d be forced to drop coverage for themselves or their employees. Others anticipate freezing hiring, delaying expansion, cutting staff, or raising prices for customers. More than half of business owners have already cut their own compensation due to combined economic pressures ranging from rising healthcare costs to tariff fallout and inflation. During the call, Rep. Beyer expressed support for small business owners and underscored the urgent need for Congressional action. “Allowing health care tax credits to expire would be a disaster for America’s small businesses, which is why the vast majority of small business owners want Congress to extend them,” said Rep. Beyer. “Small business owners also say Congress’ priorities are not aligned with their needs, and that’s easy to understand when tax credits that benefit working people and small businesses expire while Republicans rush to pass a bill that puts us trillions in debt with so much money going to the wealthiest. Congress has an opportunity now to solve multiple problems: end the shutdown, lower the cost of living, improve Americans’ health care. That’s what we should do.” Small business owners and self-employed workers account for about 25% of all ACA marketplace enrollees , a disproportionately high share compared to the general population. For these entrepreneurs, the ACA tax credits are a lifeline that allows them to compete for workers and stay open. The survey found 81% believe rising healthcare costs put them at a severe disadvantage compared to large corporations that can self-insure. This crisis comes as small businesses already are grappling with multiple economic pressures: unpredictable tariffs, persistent inflation, and an unfair tax system. This month, Congress passed H.R. 1 , a $2+ trillion tax package delivering cuts to corporations and the wealthy but failed to extend the ACA tax credits and slashed nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid. As a result, 72% of small business owners surveyed said Congressional priorities are misaligned with small business needs, and, as the shutdown continues, they want Congress to make the tax credits permanent. “I wouldn’t be in business today without the ACA tax credits that make it possible for me to get health insurance and be an entrepreneur,” said Kerri VanMeveren, SBAF network member and owner of Amazing Traditions, a government contracting business in Kansas City, Mo. “Now I’m bracing for enormous monthly premium increases, and am worried I may have to close the business I’ve spent more than a decade building because I need to find a job that offers healthcare coverage. Five million small business owners are facing similar situations right now. Congress must act immediately to make these tax credits permanent.” The survey shows small business owners across the political spectrum agree on a variety common-sense policy solutions to rein in healthcare costs: 87% support making the enhanced ACA premium tax credits permanent 95% support allowing small businesses to join together for group purchasing power 94% support extending Medicare drug price negotiations to private insurance 92% support capping commercial drug price increases at the inflation rate 96% support hospital price transparency enforcement to enable comparison shopping A recording of the press call is available here . To schedule an interview with a small business owner or 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 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 Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com (617) 875-6581 Survey: As Shutdown Continues, 87% of Small Business Owners Want ACA Tax Credits Made Permanent National survey finds overwhelming support among small businesses for making enhanced ACA tax credits permanent before imminent expiration triggers severe financial strain; 72% say Congress’ healthcare priorities are misaligned with small business needs WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 22, 2025 – Eighty-seven percent of small business owners want Congress to make the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits at the center of the government shutdown debate permanent, according to a new national survey from Small Business for America's Future. Without the credits, 84% are concerned about their ability to afford healthcare, and if premiums spike as projected, more than a third would face severe financial strains threatening their operations while nearly a quarter would be forced to drop employee coverage entirely. The survey of 620 small business owners reveals an affordability crisis that cuts deep for Main Street. Roughly 5 million small business owners rely on ACA marketplaces and could lose coverage when these credits expire. Small business owners make up about 25% of all marketplace enrollees, a disproportionately high share compared to the broader population. ACA marketplace premiums could double in 2026 when the tax credits expire Dec. 31, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. “We’re watching healthcare costs create a two-tiered economy,” said Small Business for America’s Future Co-Chair Walt Rowen, owner of Susquehanna Glass Company in Columbia, Pa. “More than 80% of small business owners say rising healthcare costs put us at a severe disadvantage compared to large corporations that can self-insure. The consequences are brutal. Whether we offer health insurance or help employees access affordable marketplace coverage, when premiums spike, we face the same threat: losing our best employees to companies that can offer better benefits.” “Higher costs are crushing small businesses. From devastating health care cuts to tariff chaos to skyrocketing energy prices, small businesses are struggling to compete, grow, hire, and even survive,” said Senator Markey, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. "Today’s survey results show what we already knew – small businesses need real relief now. We must protect small businesses and employees by reversing the Trump administration’s harmful policies and stop Main Street from becoming Pain Street.” Small business owners say that the expiration of the tax credits and soaring healthcare costs could trigger a cascade of economic impacts for small businesses: More than half of business owners have already cut their own compensation due to combined economic pressures ranging from rising healthcare costs to tariff fallout and inflation 41% of those surveyed said they would be forced to increase prices to their customers About one in four would freeze hiring or delay expansion plans for their businesses One in five would reduce their workforce More than a third of small business owners say the combined pressure of healthcare costs and other economic factors threatens their ability to stay in business The healthcare cost crisis facing small businesses comes after Congress passed H.R. 1, a $2+ trillion tax package that helped the wealthy and large corporations but failed to extend the ACA tax credits and cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid. Seventy-two percent of small business owners surveyed said Congressional priorities are misaligned with small business needs, and, as the shutdown continues, they want Congress to make the tax credits permanent. “Small businesses employ nearly half the people in this country. We are the backbone of the American economy, and our success is everyone’s success,” said SBAF network member Ja'Net Adams, owner of EMACK Consulting LLC in Kernersville, N.C. “When soaring healthcare costs threaten small businesses, they threaten millions of jobs, families, and communities. Congress needs to focus on policies that will help us, like making the tax credits permanent. These aren’t radical ideas. They’re common-sense solutions that would help us succeed.” The survey shows small business owners across the political spectrum agree on a number of policy solutions to rein in the cost of healthcare: 87% support making the enhanced ACA premium tax credits permanent 95% support allowing small businesses to join together for group purchasing power 94% support extending Medicare drug price negotiations to private insurance 92% support capping commercial drug price increases at the inflation rate 92% support providing tax credits for small businesses offering employees Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRA) 96% support hospital price transparency enforcement to enable comparison shopping The survey was conducted Sept. 23-Oct. 14, 2025, and included 620 small business owners from diverse industries across all 50 states. Thirty percent of respondents identified as Democrats, 22% as Republicans and 46% as neither. 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 business owners and leaders 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. For more information, visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.or g .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Media Contact Janel Knight Trulear janel@emccommunications.com ( 6 17) 875-6581 STATEMENT: Small business owner urges for extension of ACA Premium tax credits at press conference with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Caucus on Capitol Hill Statement by Claire Sachs, founder of TPAC Consulting in Washington, DC and Small Business for America's Future network member WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2025 – “Congress is about to price 5 million small business owners out of healthcare coverage. When the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits expire at year's end, we're looking at premium spikes averaging 20% that will force closures across Main Street. “I know what losing healthcare stability would mean for small businesses like mine. My insulin pump costs $7,500, and the insulin itself runs $12,000 a year. Without coverage, my annual medical bills would top $30,000, an impossible burden for a small business owner operating with tight margins. “Before the ACA passed, insurers would have rejected me outright because of my chronic conditions, trapping me in corporate jobs for coverage. The passage of the ACA and these tax credits finally let me launch my own business in November of 2021. If the credits expire, I will likely have to close my doors and look for a job that offers health insurance. "Small businesses are getting crushed by tariffs, inflation, and tax policies that favor our large corporate competitors. We cannot absorb an enormous healthcare cost spike on top of everything else. For many businesses, this increase will be the final blow. A Small Business for America’s Future survey shows 55% of small businesses have owners, employees, or families who rely on premium tax credits. There are 30 million small businesses in America employing half of the country’s workforce. This could take millions of productive people out of the economy. “Extend the enhanced premium tax credits now. Small businesses built this economy, and we deserve healthcare that doesn’t bankrupt us.” 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 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 .