Entrepreneurs and local businesses are the backbone of our economy. I am championing policies that give them the tools they need to succeed. Even when Washington is distracted, I am standing up for small businesses so they can grow and hire.
Supporting Entrepreneurs and Business Owners
Expand business support programs. Fund SBA programs that give entrepreneurs local tools they need to succeed like Women’s Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers, SCORE mentoring, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers.
Support paid leave for small business owners. Pass paid leave programs that take the financial burden off small businesses and allow workers to take leave without hurting operating costs or expenses.
Invest in child care solutions. Enhance existing small business child care tax credits, simplify and raise awareness of existing benefits, and incentivize the pooling of resources among business owners so that child care is more accessible and affordable for entrepreneurs.
Increasing Access to Capital
Increase access to capital. Reauthorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to meet our 21st century needs, ensure adequate staffing at the agency, and streamline loan applications so that businesses can receive federal loans more efficiently.
Invest in local communities. Strengthen funding for Community Development Financial Institutions and grant programs that bring federal support to main streets across the country.
Make federal contracts fair. Hold the Small Business Administration accountable to meeting its contracting goals so women, veterans, and entrepreneurs in underserved communities actually get their fair share of federal contracts and opportunities.
Help small businesses save on energy. Raise the limits in the SBA’s “504” loan program so small businesses can get affordable financing to invest in energy-efficient upgrades that lower costs long-term.
Turn research into real products. Pass my bipartisan bill, the RAMP for Innovators Act, to make sure taxpayer-funded small business research leads to products that actually reach the market.
Expanding the Small Business Workforce
Invest in workers and training. Pass bipartisan bills like my STEM RESTART Act to help small businesses hire in-demand talent and retrain workers. Expand access to apprenticeships through passing the National Apprenticeship Act.
Support employee ownership. Provide more federal help for small and mid-sized businesses to transition into employee-owned companies, which keeps businesses local and thriving especially when owners retire.
