Dear President Trump, Secretary Bessent, Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Schumer, and Leader Jeffries,

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 drives communities across the country. 

As network members of Small Business for America's Future (SBAF), we represent small business owners across the country who are facing an unprecedented crisis. We are writing to you because our businesses, and the livelihoods they support, are under threat from current tariff policies.

The crisis is immediate and severe. Recent Small Business for America's Future survey data reveals the devastating impact these policies are having on small businesses:

• 80% of businesses affected by tariffs view them as an existential or major threat to their survival
• 79% of respondents are concerned about a U.S. recession within the next 12 months
• 48% say they are unable grow or expand in the current economic environment
  
  

Unlike large corporations that have the resources to navigate supply chain disruptions or absorb unexpected cost increases, small businesses operate on thin margins and have limited flexibility. When tariffs drive up the cost of essential materials and products, we face an impossible choice: Either absorb costs that threaten our survival or pass them on to consumers who are already struggling with inflation.

Consider the real impact on small businesses across America:

• An Arizona coffee shop owner spent over $25,000 stockpiling cups from China to avoid tariff increases, yet still faces 12-15% cost hikes on paper goods and supplies.
• A Michigan engineering company had a medical device project delayed when suppliers suddenly demanded additional payments to cover unexpected tariff expenses.
• A Nebraska soul food restaurant may have to raise prices or delay hiring due to unpredictable tariffs on the globally sourced spices that define their dishes.
  
  

We urgently need Congress and the administration to act on tariff relief that recognizes the disproportionate burden these policies place on small businesses. Solutions like the Small Business Liberation Act are a step in the right direction. We need trade policy solutions that provide the stability and predictability small businesses require to plan, invest, and grow. More than 33 million U.S. small businesses need relief from overly broad and unpredictable tariffs that threaten our ability to compete. This approach recognizes what policymakers must understand that small businesses cannot and should not bear the disproportionate burden of trade policy decisions.

Adding to these challenges, the recently enacted Republican budget adds an estimated $3 trillion to the national debt while cutting health programs that small businesses and their families rely on. Combined with tax cuts that disproportionately benefit large corporations, these policies have worsened an already fragile economic environment where we are struggling to survive mounting tariff costs. These additional fiscal burdens compound the impossible choices small businesses face daily.

The success of America's economy depends on the success of its small businesses. We employ your constituents, support your local communities, and drive the innovation that keeps America competitive. We are not asking for special treatment, we are asking for fair treatment and the opportunity to compete on a level playing field.

Thank you for your consideration and leadership.

Sincerely,

Small Business for America's Future

Alabama

• Henry Mcmullen, Mac's BBQ place, Aliceville, AL

Arizona

• Nicole Bennett, Perry Consulting LLC, Goodyear, AZ
• Frances Cardenas, Dedicated Catering LLC, Glendale, AZ
• Leticia D'Amore, D’Amore Training & Consulting, Maricopa, AZ
• Ruth Graham, InfiniteTransitions LLC, Phoenix, AZ
• Gabe Hagen, Brick Road Community Corporation, Tempe, AZ
• Melissa Harlan, Drink Me! Tea Room, Tempe, AZ

California

• Gernado Abrams, Bungi Enterprises, Huntington Beach, CA
• Karrye Braxton, Braxton Family Fund, Los Angeles, CA
• Michael Brown, Cantara Cellars, Flat Fish Brewing Company, Camarillo, CA
• California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity, San Francisco, CA
• Anna Chavez, Vez Guitar Academy, San Gabriel, CA
• Mary Johnson, Von Phreak, Los Angeles, CA
• Patricia Lounis, MYX Product Group, Claremont, CA
• Haley Pavone, Pashion Footwear INC, San Luis Obispo, CA
• George Sararu, Omega-Comfort LLC, Hemet, CA
• Christopher Sharpe, Norden Living LLC, San Francisco, CA
• Thomas Wesley, Mountaineers Fire Crew, Inc., Redding, CA

Colorado

• Julie Rhodes, Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions LLC, Broomfield, CO
• Masaru Torito, Kokoro Restaurant, Arvada, CO

District of Columbia

• Kimberly Daniels, Mercantile Logistics & International Trade, Inc., Washington, DC
• Jefefry Shapiro, Fountain Square Beverage Concept, LLC, Washington, DC

Florida

• Miriam Carlota Arthur-Sullivan, NieCat Blessings Academy, Miami, FL
• Andrica Durm-Williams, Dorays Hair Studio, Crestview, FL
• Leonor Galvan, ACCTAX-Accounting & Tax Services, Lauderhill, FL
• Joseph Kipnis, High Seas Innovation, Sunny Isles Beach, FL
• Alex Marron, E-Marine Systems and E-RV Solar, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Gabrielle Smith, Lumen Mundi, Boynton Beach, FL
• Stephen Smith, Tollanis Solutions Inc, Boynton Beach, FL
• Miriam Sullivan, NieCat  Blessings Academy, Miami, FL

Georgia

• Patrick Brown, Sierra International LLC, Conyers, GA
• André Cross, Elements Of Life Wellness LLC, Atlanta, GA

Illinois

• Dyann Berndt, Stenographic Court Reporter, Berwyn, IL
• Veronica Yepez, La Florencia Bakery, Chicago, IL

Kansas

• Rebecca James, Abovo LLC, Prairie Village, KS

Kentucky

• Oliver Sullivan, Mystic Dragon Fun Center, Georgetown, KY

Louisiana

• Aimee Daigle, Noble Plastics, Youngsville, LA

Maryland

• Connie Mazur, CyberVillage Networkers, Inc., Ellicott City, MD
• Carol Moorefield, Caldron Crafts , Windsor Mill, MD

Massachusetts

• Cambridge Local First, Cambridge, MA
• Kerry Dietz, Dietz & Company Architects, Springfield, MA
• Shawn Laughlin, Caskata, Wellesley, MA
• Legrand Lindor, LMI Textiles, Milton, MA
• Christopher Schaffner, The Green Engineer, Inc., Concord, MA
• Doug Scheffel, Sajawi Corporation, Littleton, MA
• U.S. Haitian Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Randolph, MA

Michigan

• Johnnie Jr Bellows, Aura Company LLC, Ann Arbor, MI
• Chris Casteel, Anew Life Prosthetics and Orthotics, Detroit, MI
• Carrin Harris, Blitz Proto, Farmington Hills, MI
• De Lorenco L Jackson, Damajha Systems, Lawton, MI
• Ron Kurnik, Superior Coffee Roasting Co., Inc., Sault Sainte Marie, MI
• Tonya McNeal-Weary, IBS Global Consulting, Inc., Detroit, MI
• Troy Morris, Kall Morris Inc (KMI), Marquette, MI

Minnesota

• Deacon Kyllander, Kyllander, Taconite, MN
• Jannie Seibure, Cavalla Travel and Tour, Minneapolis, MN
• Faira Torchia, Connections XIII, Minneapolis, MN

Missouri

• Dan Nix, PPLSI, Grain Valley, MO

Nebraska

• Gladys Harrison, Big Mama's Kitchen & Catering Inc., Omaha, NE

Nevada

• Jenay Aiksnoras, Lake Tahoe Yoga & Bliss Experiences, Stateline, NV
• Benjamin Asquith, Chubby Pet Products LLC, Las Vegas, NV
• Rony Delgarde, Global Paint for Charity, Inc, Las Vegas, NV
• Lee Henry, Retro Manufacturing, Henderson, NV
• Shaundell Newsome, Sumnu Marketing, Henderson, NV
• Andrea Vigil, Allegiant Electric LLC, Las Vegas, NV

New Jersey

• Jean Alix Pierre Louis Seraphin, IT and PC Tech Field Services, Williamstown, NJ

New Mexico

• Frank Spillers, Rural Community Solutions, Las Cruces, NM

New York

• Todd Greenberg, Budget Blinds of Ossining, Pound Ridge, NY
• Patrick Hall, Elan Flowers, New York, NY
• Susanna Hollnsteiner, Metalocke Industries Inc, Woodside, NY
• Jane Parmel, Cardinal Profit Strategies, Rockaway Park, NY

North Carolina

• Azania Herron, Zaja PR, Charlotte, NC
• Brandon Korman, The BDK Management Group Inc, Leland, NC
• Greater NC Black Chamber of Commerce, Winston Salem, NC
• Lukaso Onokoko, Health Markets, Charlotte, NC

Ohio

• Marina Amaral, Sugar Emporium LLC, Mason, OH
• Prince Bonsu, All Star Academy Learning Center, Pickerton, OH
• Todd Hamblin, Global Aerospace Design Corp, Cincinnati, OH
• Melissa Supler, Lyman Steel Company, Cleveland, OH
• Anne Zimmerman, Zimmerman & Co CPAs, Cincinnati, OH

Oregon

• Mike Roach, Paloma Clothing, Portland, OR

Pennsylvania

• Darren Pearson, Dibbs BBQ, Philadelphia, PA
• Walter Rowen, Susquehanna Glass Co., Lancaster, PA

South Carolina

• Cynthia Everette, ABC Locksmiths, LLC, Greenville, SC
• South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Columbia, SC

Tennessee

• India Fleming, Barber, Memphis, TN

Texas

• Nancy Anderson, LED OEM Partners LLC, Houston, TX
• Rebecca Boenigk, Neutral Posture, Inc., College Station, TX
• Juan Galvan, Galsan Logistics , laredo, TX
• Coretta Graham, Graham Legal Services, Corpus Christi, TX
• Janice Jucker, Three Brothers Bakery, Houston, TX
• Alessandra Manzano, Apfelbaum Industrial Inc, El Paso, TX
• Mark Olinger, The Big Bear Group, LLC, Pittsburg, TX
• Adam Orman, L'Oca d'Oro, Austin, TX
• Jane Pettigrew, CPAj LLC, Dallas, TX
• Michael Reilly, Artifacture, Dallas, TX

Utah

• William Fisher, Fisher Writing and Editing Services, Millcreek, UT

Virginia

• Yvonne Finney, Loadstar Consulting, Inc., Newport News, VA
• Kenneth Hart, K Hart Holdings T/A signarama-norfolk, Norfolk, VA
• Michelle Thomas, M Design Studio, LLC, Alexandria, VA
• Frankye Thomas, Dynasty Jordan LLC, Alexandria, VA

Washington

• Tanya Brooks, Tanya's Legal Services, LLC, Bremerton, WA
• Jill Nelson, Hot Diggity Dog Walking & Pet Sitting, Vancouver, WA

Wisconsin

• Daniel Guerra Jr., Altus, Madison, WI
• Hugo Ramirez, Frio Mexican Treats, Appleton, WI