NAWBO CEO and Board Chair in Washington, D.C.
The Senate passed its budget resolution last week, and the House closed out its budget this week. Both are like a blueprint that outlines how much the government plans to collect in taxes and how much it will spend. The resolution itself does not change tax laws, but it can include instructions for committees to make changes, like cutting or raising taxes, through a process called reconciliation. This allows tax changes to pass with a simple majority in the Senate, avoiding the usual 60-vote requirement. They’ve got to come to an agreement, though, so we’ll see what happens next. The process of putting their ideas together begins, also known as conference. What will continue from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act? Well, this week, the Hill heard from NAWBO what we want!
CEO Jen Earle and National Board Chair Dr. Janis Shinkawa had a busy week in Washington, D.C. Here’s what they learned:
- The House Small Business Committee will be marking up bills next week. One bill will remove the ability for women to self-certify for the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program. Republicans believe this will be an opportunity to remove fraud. Democrats see it as an opportunity to tout the importance of the WOSB program and the contracting goals for women. NAWBO plans to release a statement this week that discusses the importance of the WOSB program.
- Representative Marcy Kaptur, one of the champions of H.R. 5050, continues to fight for women business owners in the nation, especially in Northeast Ohio. Kaptur is focusing on the technology skills needed for a diversified workforce. We also shared the definition of microbusiness with her office. We are hoping you’ll see her and be able to share your appreciation for all her hard work through the decades at Advocacy Days.
- The Ways and Means Committee in the House may have differing opinions, but they heard your priorities this week. CEO Earle and Dr. Shinkawa shared your viewpoints from the 2025 Advocacy Survey, which included:
- Support for the 20% pass-through or 199A,
- Support for 45S, and
- The need to include the beauty industry in the FICA tax tip credit.
- The Majority staff is hopeful that our priorities will move across the finish line. The Minority staff believes the TCJA provisions will be extended for another five years.
- Dr. Terry Neese, a NAWBO member from Oklahoma, introduced us to Senator James Lankford (R-OK). CEO Earle and Dr. Shinkawa sat with Senator Lankford this week to discuss our tax priorities and the definition of microbusiness. They also had a chance to discuss natural gas. The Senator asked what NAWBO members preferred: the 45S bill from Senator Fischer or the Britt-Kaine Childcare proposals. NAWBO has supported both efforts, but what do YOU think is more important?
- During a meeting with Senator Fischer’s Legislative Director and Legislative Aide, the staff thanked NAWBO for our advocacy efforts on the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act, which would make the Paid Family Leave tax credit or 45S permanent. CEO Earle continued to share concerns about the WOSB program and the need for diversified energy sources like natural gas.
- During our meeting with Senator Britt’s staff, we learned they will reintroduce their Child Care package next week. NAWBO is already supporting both measures as we did last Congress. You may remember this package is two separate bills. The Child Care Availability and Affordability Act would make child care more affordable by increasing the size of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) and making it refundable to allow lower-income working families with out-of-pocket child care expenses to benefit from the credit for the first time. The Child Care Workforce Act would make it easier to access child care by establishing a competitive grant program for states, localities, Tribes, and Tribal organizations interested in adopting or expanding pay supplement programs for child care workers to increase supply and reduce turnover. Details can be found regarding both bills here from the last Congress.
- Our meeting with the House Energy and Commerce Committee's majority staff focused on artificial intelligence and alternative forms of energy, such as natural gas. We were also able to share our other advocacy priorities as well.
In Administration news this week, SBA Administrator Loeffler issued a Day One Memo. The memo outlines how SBA will become an America First engine for free enterprise. The top 15 items include:
- Promoting “Made in America” with U.S. manufacturing
- Implementing President Trump’s executive orders
- Supporting the Department of Government Efficiency
- Mandating full-time, in-office work for SBA employees
- Prioritizing workforce optimization
- Cracking down on fraud
- Conducting an agency-wide financial audit
- Protecting the solvency of loan programs and restoring underwriting standards
- Banning illegal aliens from receiving SBA assistance
- Restricting hostile foreign nationals from accessing SBA assistance
- Creating a strike force to cut regulation
- Improving SBA customer service, technology, and cybersecurity
- Promoting fair competition by returning 8(a) contracting goals to statutory levels
- Relocating regional offices out of sanctuary cities
- Ending partisan voter registration activities
Advocacy Day is Selling Out Fast!
Remember Advocacy Day kicks off the Women’s Business Conference on June 5, 2025. There is limited seating in the room on Capitol Hill, and we’ve already sold more than half of the tickets. Get your tickets now!
Where do I get advocacy information beyond this email?
As the new Administration is very busy, we shifted to a bimonthly call schedule in advance of our conference in June. You can get all the details on NAWBO's Advocacy strategy on our monthly calls slated for the first Thursday of the month at 11 a.m. PT/1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET and the third Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. PT/11 a.m. CT/12 p.m. ET. Our next two meetings will be on March 6th and March 18th.
