WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 27, 2025) – Beth Milito, Vice President and Executive Director of NFIB’s Small Business Legal Center, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce at a hearing titled, “Unleashing America’s Workforce and Strengthening Our Economy.” Milito spoke on how Congress and the Administration can strengthen the small business workforce. Among the solutions, Milito emphasized the importance of making the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction permanent to allow small businesses to continue investing in the American workforce.

Milito testified:

“Any small business owner can tell you: their workforce is their greatest asset. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provided unique opportunities for small businesses to expand and grow, create more jobs, and reinvest in the American workforce. Specifically, the law created the 20% Small Business Deduction, which provided 9 out of 10 small businesses with tax relief that they utilized in unique ways to benefit their businesses, community, and workers.

“NFIB members have used the tax relief provided to them through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to give bonuses to employees; hire new employees; keep up with inflation; purchase and maintain equipment that makes workers’ jobs easier and safer; keep employees on year-round; increase wages; give back to their communities; and strengthen benefits packages to include health insurance, Health Savings Accounts, vision insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, more paid time off, profit sharing, and 401k matching of employee contributions.”

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“Small businesses are optimistic that the Trump Administration and 119th Congress will implement pro-growth tax, labor, regulatory, and economic policies. However, major threats loom on the horizon. Congress and the Administration can deliver probusiness policies for small businesses, but they must reject policies that increase uncertainty, regulatory burdens, and red tape.”

Read Milito’s full testimony here. Watch her opening remarks here.

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For 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses, and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.