Happy Small Business Saturday!

Dear friends and neighbors,

Happy Small Business Saturday! I hope you had a restful and meaningful Thanksgiving. I’m very grateful I got to spend the day with my family. And today, we’ll be out supporting some of Minnesota’s incredible small businesses. 

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They represent what I love the most about America: that anyone, from anywhere, can create something special from the ground up and realize their dream. 

In Congress, I am proud to serve on the House Committee on Small Business, where I advocate for the almost 20,000 small businesses in Minnesota’s Third District. One of the highlights of my time in Congress has been visiting amazing small businesses around the district. Whether you’re a brewer, a bookseller, or a machine manufacturer, it’s an honor to learn more about your business and the work you do.

If you are a small business owner in Minnesota’s Third District, I would love to pay you a visit! Please fill out the form below to tell us more about your business. I’m looking forward to hearing from you and visiting more small businesses in the coming months.

I’ve heard from small businesses in Minnesota and across the country about how challenging the Trump Administration's tariff policies have been. The unpredictability, the chaos, and the added expense the tariffs have brought have created an untenable situation for many small businesses. With those businesses in mind, this week I introduced a bill that would exempt small businesses from tariffs and provide refunds to help relieve the financial strain that’s been placed on them this year.

Touring the Third District’s Small Businesses

I have been hearing from many small business owners about how detrimental and concerning the Trump Administration’s sweeping global tariff policies are to their businesses. Since the Administration announced its sweeping tariffs in April, small businesses across the country have been raising the alarm that these tariff policies will force them to raise prices, cut staff, or even go out of business entirely.

In August, I toured small businesses all across Minnesota’s Third District who told me that President Trump’s tariff policies are negatively impacting their businesses. From coffee roasters who told me it would be impossible to source their beans in America, to fire safety manufacturers who sell to other countries, the tariffs are hurting Minnesota’s small businesses. I’m so grateful to the small business owners who took the time to welcome my team and me into their work places and for their willingness to speak out for themselves, their employees, and their fellow small business owners. You can see the full tour and learn more about the small businesses I visited here.

Here’s what else I’ve been working on to support small businesses this year:

Creating Legislation That Supports Small Business Owners

Serving on the House Committee on Small Business 

Much of my legislation in Congress is informed by my work on the House Committee on Small Business, where I’m the Ranking Member of the Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains Subcommittee. I work closely with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on legislation to support small businesses. 

Pressing Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler to Exempt Small Businesses from Tariffs

The Committee on Small Business works closely with the U.S. Small Business Administration. When Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler appeared before the Committee, I asked her about her plans for the small businesses who were threatened by the Trump Administration’s tariff policies, and I asked her to commit to exempting small businesses from these tariffs. Administrator Loeffler refused — even though huge tech companies had already been granted exemptions after intense lobbying of the administration or after they had donated to the president or made business deals with the President’s personal business interests. You can watch our full exchange here.

Introducing the Small Business Liberation Act

This summer my colleague Representative Chris Pappas and I introduced the Small Business Liberation Act in the House, which would provide an immediate exemption from the Trump Administration's new global tariffs for America’s 34 million small businesses. We held a press conference with small business owners across the country who voiced their support for the bill and explained exactly how these tariffs are hurting their businesses and livelihoods. You can watch the full press conference here.

Urging Speaker Johnson to End the Tariff War
After months of uncertainty and financial strain for small businesses, I was heartened when the Senate passed three bipartisan resolutions that would overturn the Trump Administration’s sweeping tariffs on Canada, Brazil, and other global trading partners. But Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to call the House to vote on these resolutions — even though Article 1 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to levy taxes and tariffs, not the President.

I led my colleagues in a letter to Speaker Johnson urging him to allow the House to vote and pass those resolutions so we can bring relief to the many small businesses and Americans who are struggling to keep up with these likely illegal tariffs. It’s not too late for the Speaker to bring those resolutions to the House floor for a vote. 


Strengthening Small Business Innovation
Research and development are essential drivers of economic growth and significant determinants of business success — but too often, small businesses don’t have the resources they need to engage in these projects. I introduced the bipartisan DOE and SBA Research Act to expand research and development opportunities for small businesses. This bill passed the House this year. I’m excited small businesses will have more opportunities to expand, grow, and thrive.


Introducing My First Bill in Congress to Support Small Businesses!

The first bill I introduced in Congress was the Rural Small Business Resilience Act, a bipartisan bill that will improve access to disaster relief for rural small businesses across the country. And I’m proud to say that when this bill passed the House in February, I became the first freshman Democrat to pass a bill this Congress! As many as 40% of rural small businesses fail in the wake of a natural disaster, and as extreme weather and natural disasters become more common, it is essential that rural small businesses can access the resources they need to survive and succeed. I’m always ready to reach across the aisle to support our small businesses and keep our rural communities resilient and thriving. 

Encouraging Small Businesses to Engage in Research and Development with the SBIR/STTR Application Assistance Act

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer programs are U.S. federal funding programs that support small businesses participating in research and development. This bill makes it easier for more small businesses to apply for these programs, especially businesses in underserved communities like rural areas.

Launching a Small Business Advisory Committee

Finally, I want to share that our office has launched a Small Business Advisory Council, made up of small business owners from around the district. Their experience as small business owners is invaluable and will help guide my work as I represent the 20,000 small businesses in our district. I’m grateful to this group of leaders for sharing their time and expertise!

Thanks to all the small businesses for being creative innovators, job creators, community gathering places, and the economic engine driving our economy. Wishing everyone a happy and successful Small Business Saturday!