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Janel Knight Trulear
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(617) 875-6581

Small Business Owners Drive Economic Conversations with Current and Former Policymakers During August Recess

Small Business for America’s Future leaders engage Democratic Leader Jeffries and former AG Holder on critical economic issues including taxes, tariffs, healthcare and redistricting  



WASHINGTON, D.C. Aug, 21, 2025 – Small business owners from across the country are warning that issues like rising costs and unpredictable policies including tariffs are squeezing Main Street and stalling growth. During the August congressional recess, members of Small Business for America’s Future (SBAF) shared their experiences with policymakers, highlighting how decisions in Washington directly impact their ability to keep doors open, hire workers, and invest in their communities.

Andrea Vigil, co-founder of Allegiant Electric LLC in Las Vegas specializes in electrical contracting, solar battery storage, and EV charging stations. Her company has seen imported component costs more than double in recent years, ballooning project budgets by hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Nearly half of respondents in a SBAF survey have seen tariffs drive up prices. For me that means homeowners are canceling or delaying projects altogether,” Vigil said. “Every increase chips away at our ability to grow, hire, and reinvest in our community.”

Vigil joined SBAF Senior Advisor Rhett Buttle, Co-Chair Shaundell Newsome, owner of Sumnu Marketing, and SBAF council member Tiara Flynn, founder of Phenomenal Mama, to share these concerns at a roundtable with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., in Las Vegas, Nevada. Newsome emphasized that small business owners are facing impossible choices.

"Small business owners are the backbone of our communities. We know our employees personally. We know their families. We sponsor the local Little League teams. We're the ones people turn to when they need jobs," said Newsome. "Right now, we're watching business owners across the country make impossible choices like cutting staff, reducing hours, or closing their doors entirely.”

In Ohio, Anne Zimmerman, founder of Zimmerman & Co CPAs Inc. and SBAF Co-Chair, is watching her small business clients struggle with an impossible planning environment. Tax and tariff policies change with every election cycle and regulatory requirements shift unpredictably. Zimmerman raised these concerns at a grassroots roundtable on redistricting with former Attorney General Eric Holder, alongside SBAF council member Todd Hamblin, President and CEO of Global Aerospace Design Corp.

“When I work with a client on a five-year financial plan, we have to make assumptions about tax rates and compliance requirements. But when policies swing wildly every election cycle, those assumptions become worthless,” Zimmerman said. “I’ve watched clients postpone major investments, equipment purchases and hiring decisions because they can’t count on a stable policy environment. Unlike large corporations with teams of lobbyists, small businesses don’t have the cushion to absorb that kind of uncertainty.”

As Congress returns from recess, SBAF is calling on lawmakers to develop and prioritize policies that provide the stability and support America's 33 million small businesses need to thrive.

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.

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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.