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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.

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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.