Recently, U.S. Representative Nick LaLota (NY-1st Dist.) joined a Small Business Challenge event with Long Island NFIB member Steven Fusco at Steven’s business, Bagel Place Cafe & Deli in Hampton Bays, New York.

Steven showed Congressman LaLota and NFIB advocacy staff his plan to make upgrades to the business thanks to the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction, including new menu signs and a possible counter space to increase seating capacity. Cong. LaLota helped lead the fight in Congress to save the federal Small Business Deduction, which was set to expire at the end of last year without legislative action. Millions of small businesses would have paid higher taxes had the deduction been allowed to sunset, significantly penalizing small businesses compared to big business. Cong. LaLota  strongly supported small business on this all-important fight through multiple votes and debates, leading to the deduction being made permanent when the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law last July.

Cong. LaLota was also able to go into the kitchen to bake some bagels, and he did so with great success.

In addition to the Small Business Deduction, the congressman discussed rising energy costs with Steven, employees, and NFIB staff, detailing his support of an “all of the above” strategy to maintain reliable access to affordable energy. They also discussed the significant benefit of the expanded federal SALT (state and local taxes) deduction. As with the fight to preserve the Small Business Deduction, Cong. LaLota was a stalwart leader in the successful effort to expand the federal SALT Deduction last year, which is a vital tax savings for small business owners in high-tax states like New York.