WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) released poll results examining top policy concerns among the small business community and highlighting the need for Congress to prioritize policies that aid economic recovery.
Key takeaways from the poll, conducted by Morning Consult, include:
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41% of small business owners (SBOs) say economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic should be one of Congress’ top priorities across the board.
- 72% of SBOs agree the pandemic has already made things hard enough for small businesses and they cannot afford to have government policies that disrupt day-to-day business.
- Nearly 8-in-10 SBOs agree healthcare reform that adds new costs for small businesses is high-risk and would add another burden to recovering businesses.
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More than 9-in-10 SBOs say Congress’ top healthcare priority should be policies that address the rising cost and dwindling coverage of health insurance.
- In fact, 71% of SBOs want Congress to focus more on reducing the overall cost of healthcare rather than focusing just on drug pricing.
- Specifically, one third of small business owners are most concerned with addressing the cost of health insurance premiums—the top answer for healthcare priorities.
- 90% of SBOs agree that continued research and innovation is vital to the country’s prosperity.
- Nearly 9-in-10 also believe U.S. leaders should be anticipating and encouraging the need for research and development of new treatments and medicines.
SBE Council President & CEO Karen Kerrigan said: “The disruptive economic impact of the pandemic continues to disproportionately impact small businesses, and Congress must be attuned to their challenges to help them compete, recover and thrive. Our new survey with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce provides a roadmap for relevant policymaking that will help small business owners, particularly with rising healthcare costs and how these threaten their ability to support their employees and businesses in this challenging environment. The year-over-year increases in health coverage costs are unsustainable and Congress must listen to America’s small business owners and advance smart economic reforms and market-oriented healthcare solutions that promote affordability, innovation and choice. During the holiday recess, we urge members of Congress to reach out and listen to small business owners to ensure they are acting on policies that support their recovery rather than creating more burdens for them to navigate.”
USHCC President & CEO Ramiro A Cavazos said: “The past year and a half have been an uphill battle for our nation’s small businesses, particularly those in marginalized communities that disproportionately felt the brunt of this public health crisis but have continued to persevere. Policymakers must do everything they can to give small businesses the support they need, starting by listening to their needs that Congress must address such as economic recovery, rising healthcare costs, building a skilled workforce, and dwindling insurance coverage—without adding or creating more burdens or costs for the small business community.”
The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council is a non-partisan advocacy, research and education organization dedicated to protecting small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship. For 27 years, SBE Council has worked on and advanced a range of private sector and public policy initiatives to strengthen the ecosystem for strong startup activity and small business growth.
The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce actively promotes the economic growth, development, and interests of more than 5 million Hispanic-owned businesses. The USHCC team embodies the patriotic spirit and core mission of fostering the growth of American’s business community.