Small businesses

What federal policy does for small and locally owned businesses, from loans, grants and investment through the SBA and community lenders to aid when crises hit, and how they fare against large corporations.

Support small businesses

28 members
Jamie Ager
House · NC-11 · Democrat
“I’m concerned about big challenges like recovering from Hurricane Helene, affordability for working families, and preserving our environment and culture. I’m also outspoken about the need to support local businesses and putting Western North Carolina first.”
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“Growing Small Businesses and Good Jobs”
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Melissa Bean
House · IL-8 · Democrat
“Empower workers and small business owners to earn more and get ahead”
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Daniel Biss
House · IL-9 · Democrat
“Supporting Small and Independent Businesses: Monopolies like Amazon make it impossible for small businesses to get ahead. We need to make sure that every small business can compete fairly with companies like Amazon that run giant marketplaces. And we need to make sure giant corporations pay their fair share.”
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Christina Bohannan
House · IA-1 · Democrat
“That’s why, in 2020, I took on the political establishment and defeated a 20-year incumbent of my own party to serve in the Iowa House of Representatives. There, I fought for our public schools, our farmers and small businesses, clean air and water, and our rights and liberties.”
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Jasmine Clark
House · GA-13 · Democrat
“Help Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs Grow”
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Cait Conley
House · NY-17 · Democrat
“Supporting small businesses by cutting red tape, expanding access to affordable capital, and making sure that small businesses can attract talent with expanded access to affordable healthcare.”
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Rebecca Cooke
House · WI-3 · Democrat
“Rebecca started a nonprofit organization that has helped over 70 small businesses create local jobs and she served on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation board, aiding in the success of rural businesses.”
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“Support Small Business”
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“Keeping Main Streets Strong”
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La Shawn Ford
House · IL-7 · Democrat
“Ford has been one of Springfield’s leading champions for working families, small businesses, and returning citizens.”
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“Throughout his tenure, Ford has championed social justice, equity, and expanded opportunity, driving legislation that advances jobs, education, health, second chances for returning citizens, small business development, housing, and veterans’ services.”
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“My approach pairs higher wage standards with targeted support for truly small, locally owned businesses. That means lowering health care costs, improving access to affordable credit, enforcing labor laws evenly, and ensuring that responsible employers are not punished while bad actors cut corners.”
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“Support working women and responsible small businesses together”
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Sarah Trone Garriott
House · IA-3 · Democrat
“In Congress, I’ll fight to raise wages and support local small businesses—not by writing blank checks, but by investing in apprenticeships, vocational schools, community colleges, and job training programs that prepare Iowans for high-skill, high-wage work.”
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Oliver Gilbert
House · FL-24 · Democrat
“Oliver will fight in Washington to reinvest in job training, especially in high-paying technical fields that can’t easily be taken away by AI, and to strengthen support for entrepreneurs and small business owners.”
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Angela Gonzales-Torres
House · CA-34 · Democrat
“Support for small businesses and social enterprises that hire locally and invest in the community”
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Frederick Haynes III
House · TX-30 · Democrat
“Support for minority-owned and locally rooted small businesses.”
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“Invest in wealth-building opportunities, including home ownership, small business development, and student debt relief.”
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Chuck Hubbard
House · NC-5 · Democrat
“In Congress, Chuck will fight corruption, prioritize our working families and small businesses, support public education, work to build an economy that works for all of us, and expand access to affordable healthcare.”
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“We need a Representative who will take action to bring back good-paying jobs, support our small businesses, and strengthen North Carolina’s agriculture – especially as farmers face increasingly unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change.”
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Cyril Jefferson
House · NC-6 · Democrat
“Cyril will bring federal dollars home to modernize roads, rail, and broadband, support small businesses and farmers, and boost housing supply—using the same results-driven approach that secured millions for High Point without raising taxes.”
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“Boosting small business growth with SBA micro-loans and Main Street accelerator funds.”
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“As Mayor, he’s led local efforts to increase affordable housing, support small businesses, and strengthen public infrastructure.”
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Jake Johnson
House · MN-1 · Democrat
“I’ll cut red tape so we can quickly build new homes, expand childcare options, and support our small businesses.”
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Kristina Knickerbocker
House · OH-10 · Democrat
“In Congress, she’ll work on pragmatic approaches to end the affordability crisis, cut taxes, help small businesses, and take on the status quo of Washington corruption.”
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“That means cutting taxes for working families, lowering costs, standing up for small businesses, and making billionaires pay their fair share. It means strengthening workers’ rights and raising wages so people can actually get ahead.”
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Eileen Laubacher
House · CO-4 · Democrat
“Invest in local businesses that create good-paying jobs”
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William Lawrence
House · MI-7 · Democrat
“Support small businesses over corporate monopolies”
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Alicia Limtiaco
House · GU-AL · Democrat
“Alicia will support good-paying jobs, workforce training, and local businesses that strengthen our community and keep opportunity close to home.”
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“She’s running for Congress to fight for practical solutions that help make life easier — lowering everyday costs, improving access to services, supporting local businesses, and creating more opportunity for families to build a future right here at home.”
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“Her priorities include lowering everyday costs, expanding access to healthcare and essential services, supporting small businesses, strengthening workforce and educational opportunities, and ensuring federal resources create real benefits for local families and communities.”
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Sean McCann
House · MI-4 · Democrat
“Now, Sean is running for Congress because he knows Washington needs to focus on what matters to regular people – like protecting health care and Medicaid, not cutting it; getting costs down, not exploding the national debt; helping small businesses grow, not giving huge tax breaks to special interests; and letting women make their own health care decisions, instead of politicians making it for them.”
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JoAnna Mendoza
House · AZ-6 · Democrat
“In Congress, JoAnna will work to support small businesses, bring good-paying jobs back to our cities and towns, and ensure that companies who put roots down in Arizona hire and retain workers from our communities.”
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Richard Pan
House · CA-6 · Democrat
“Supporting Small Businesses and Local Entrepreneurs”
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“Dr. Pan will stand with small businesses, not corporate monopolies, and fight to keep our local economy strong.”
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Denise Powell
House · NE-2 · Democrat
“Increase funding and support of small businesses across Nebraska, giving them the tools they need to innovate, hire and grow.”
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Amish Shah
House · AZ-1 · Democrat
“In his five years at the State Legislature, Dr. Shah focused on increasing teacher pay, supporting small businesses, and improving public health and safety.”
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“In the State House, Amish cut taxes for middle-class families, championed small businesses, and worked across the aisle to make housing and health care more affordable.”
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Stefany Shaheen
House · NH-1 · Democrat
“In 2013, she was elected to serve on the Portsmouth City Council, where she helped tackle a parking shortage that was threatening local businesses.”
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“Stefany was elected to serve on the Portsmouth City Council, where she helped tackle a parking shortage that was threatening local businesses.”
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Hilda Solis
House · CA-38 · Democrat
“Hilda Solis established innovative programs to support small businesses in the First District. Those programs provided First District small businesses microloans and other needed services with the aim to prevent displacement, and ensured that local dollars stayed local.”
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Janelle Stelson
House · PA-10 · Democrat
“Janelle will work with Republicans & Democrats to lower the costs of utilities, healthcare, buying a home, and invest in our small businesses and family farms.”
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“SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS”
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Robert White
House · DC-AL · Democrat
“From affordable housing to small business growth, he’ll fight to make sure D.C. is a place where families can thrive, not just get by.”
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Expand small businesses' access to loans, grants and capital

16 members
Jamie Ager
House · NC-11 · Democrat
“I’ll fight to cut red tape and expand access to loans and grants for our small businesses affected by Helene.”
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Melissa Bean
House · IL-8 · Democrat
“Expand access to affordable capital for small businesses”
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Adrian Boafo
House · MD-5 · Democrat
“Mobilize capital for minority entrepreneurs. Increase access to capital for minority entrepreneurs by expanding federal small business lending and investing in Community Development Financial Institutions that support underserved communities.”
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Cait Conley
House · NY-17 · Democrat
“Supporting small businesses by cutting red tape, expanding access to affordable capital, and making sure that small businesses can attract talent with expanded access to affordable healthcare.”
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Rebecca Cooke
House · WI-3 · Democrat
“Create a regional fund that seeds dollars for second stage growth – investing more deeply in start-ups that are ready to grow, create more jobs and manufacture in Wisconsin.”
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La Shawn Ford
House · IL-7 · Democrat
“Passed laws to support micro-loans for returning citizens, state contract access for small businesses, and banking equity in underserved areas.”
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“Introduced legislation that became law establishing a micro-loan program for qualified ex-offenders who are establishing their own businesses (Public Act 096-0656)”
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“My approach pairs higher wage standards with targeted support for truly small, locally owned businesses. That means lowering health care costs, improving access to affordable credit, enforcing labor laws evenly, and ensuring that responsible employers are not punished while bad actors cut corners.”
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Oliver Gilbert
House · FL-24 · Democrat
“Startup grants and affordable financing to get your idea off the ground.”
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“The SBA Growth Line offers low-interest loans to help you scale up.”
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“A strengthened SBA 504 program makes buying property and expanding easier.”
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Cyril Jefferson
House · NC-6 · Democrat
“Boosting small business growth with SBA micro-loans and Main Street accelerator funds.”
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Nancy Lacore
House · SC-1 · Democrat
“Reduce barriers for small businesses by simplifying access to federal loans and capital, particularly for local entrepreneurs and first-time business owners.”
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Alicia Limtiaco
House · GU-AL · Democrat
“Alicia will work to reduce unnecessary barriers, expand access to capital, and ensure local businesses have a fair opportunity to compete and grow.”
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Richard Pan
House · CA-6 · Democrat
“In Congress, Dr. Pan will work to reduce unnecessary red tape, expand access to affordable capital, and push back on policies that increase uncertainty and drive up costs for small businesses.”
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Denise Powell
House · NE-2 · Democrat
“Increase funding and support of small businesses across Nebraska, giving them the tools they need to innovate, hire and grow.”
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Chris Rabb
House · PA-3 · Democrat
“He has also introduced legislation establishing microenterprise loans and specialty crop block grants.”
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Hilda Solis
House · CA-38 · Democrat
“Hilda Solis established innovative programs to support small businesses in the First District. Those programs provided First District small businesses microloans and other needed services with the aim to prevent displacement, and ensured that local dollars stayed local.”
View on their website ↗
Janelle Stelson
House · PA-10 · Democrat
“Small businesses are key to Central Pennsylvania’s economy and in Congress, I will ensure my office helps with SBA loans and I will advocate to cut through red tape so our small businesses can thrive.”
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LaKesha Womack
House · NC-14 · Democrat
“I will fight for policies that lower prices, increase access to capital for small business owners, expand workforce development, and support working families with childcare and paid leave.”
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“Expand access to capital through CDFIs and community-based lenders”
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Help small businesses compete fairly with large corporations

7 members
Daniel Biss
House · IL-9 · Democrat
“Supporting Small and Independent Businesses: Monopolies like Amazon make it impossible for small businesses to get ahead. We need to make sure that every small business can compete fairly with companies like Amazon that run giant marketplaces. And we need to make sure giant corporations pay their fair share.”
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Zach Dembo
House · KY-6 · Democrat
“In Congress, I’ll fight to end this senseless trade war, support free and open trade that helps our farmers and distillers compete globally, and make sure Main Street can compete with Wall Street to lower prices for us all.”
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Jake Johnson
House · MN-1 · Democrat
“The forum began with questions from Main Street Alliance about issues related to operating small businesses, giving Jake a chance to share his belief that we need to fund the agencies responsible for enforcing antitrust laws, so that they can go after the monopolies squeezing local operations out of business.”
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Jessica Killin
House · CO-5 · Democrat
“Level the playing field for Colorado small businesses and entrepreneurs so they can compete fairly and improve our economy”
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William Lawrence
House · MI-7 · Democrat
“Support small businesses over corporate monopolies”
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Alicia Limtiaco
House · GU-AL · Democrat
“Alicia will work to reduce unnecessary barriers, expand access to capital, and ensure local businesses have a fair opportunity to compete and grow.”
View on their website ↗
Richard Pan
House · CA-6 · Democrat
“Dr. Pan will stand with small businesses, not corporate monopolies, and fight to keep our local economy strong.”
View on their website ↗

Cut red tape for small businesses

7 members
Jamie Ager
House · NC-11 · Democrat
“I’ll fight to cut red tape and expand access to loans and grants for our small businesses affected by Helene.”
View on their website ↗
Cait Conley
House · NY-17 · Democrat
“Supporting small businesses by cutting red tape, expanding access to affordable capital, and making sure that small businesses can attract talent with expanded access to affordable healthcare.”
View on their website ↗
Jake Johnson
House · MN-1 · Democrat
“I’ll cut red tape so we can quickly build new homes, expand childcare options, and support our small businesses.”
View on their website ↗
Nancy Lacore
House · SC-1 · Democrat
“Reduce barriers for small businesses by simplifying access to federal loans and capital, particularly for local entrepreneurs and first-time business owners.”
View on their website ↗
Alicia Limtiaco
House · GU-AL · Democrat
“Alicia will work to reduce unnecessary barriers, expand access to capital, and ensure local businesses have a fair opportunity to compete and grow.”
View on their website ↗
Richard Pan
House · CA-6 · Democrat
“In Congress, Dr. Pan will work to reduce unnecessary red tape, expand access to affordable capital, and push back on policies that increase uncertainty and drive up costs for small businesses.”
View on their website ↗
Janelle Stelson
House · PA-10 · Democrat
“Small businesses are key to Central Pennsylvania’s economy and in Congress, I will ensure my office helps with SBA loans and I will advocate to cut through red tape so our small businesses can thrive.”
View on their website ↗

Lower the costs small businesses face

3 members
La Shawn Ford
House · IL-7 · Democrat
“My approach pairs higher wage standards with targeted support for truly small, locally owned businesses. That means lowering health care costs, improving access to affordable credit, enforcing labor laws evenly, and ensuring that responsible employers are not punished while bad actors cut corners.”
View on their website ↗
Nancy Lacore
House · SC-1 · Democrat
“Address rising costs that hit small businesses directly including healthcare, energy, and insurance so they can grow without passing those costs onto employees or customers.”
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Richard Pan
House · CA-6 · Democrat
“In Congress, Dr. Pan will work to reduce unnecessary red tape, expand access to affordable capital, and push back on policies that increase uncertainty and drive up costs for small businesses.”
View on their website ↗

Aid small businesses when disasters and crises hit

3 members
Jamie Ager
House · NC-11 · Democrat
“I’ll fight to cut red tape and expand access to loans and grants for our small businesses affected by Helene.”
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La Shawn Ford
House · IL-7 · Democrat
“Introduced and passed House Resolution 1652 (96th GA) urging Congress to establish a small business recession rescue task force”
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Chuck Hubbard
House · NC-5 · Democrat
“As we continue our recovery following Helene, Congress must step up and prioritize the people and small businesses on the ground. We need a representative who will fight for the funding we were promised, rather than completely ignore the issue.”
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Expand help for minority-owned small businesses

2 members
Adrian Boafo
House · MD-5 · Democrat
“Mobilize capital for minority entrepreneurs. Increase access to capital for minority entrepreneurs by expanding federal small business lending and investing in Community Development Financial Institutions that support underserved communities.”
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Frederick Haynes III
House · TX-30 · Democrat
“Support for minority-owned and locally rooted small businesses.”
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Open more government contracts to small businesses

2 members
La Shawn Ford
House · IL-7 · Democrat
“Passed laws to support micro-loans for returning citizens, state contract access for small businesses, and banking equity in underserved areas.”
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Adam Hamawy
House · NJ-12 · Democrat
“Educación, capacitación laboral y oportunidad económica Deberíamos fortalecer y expandir los beneficios educativos, invertir en capacitación laboral que conduzca a empleos sindicalizados bien remunerados en oficios, salud y la economía verde, y expandir los programas de la SBA y las oportunidades de contratación federal para pequeñas empresas propiedad de veteranos.”

In Spanish on their site.

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