The Des Moines Register published an op-ed from Cindy Mitchell, the owner of Jon Top Distributing in Des Moines, Iowa, and member of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), urging Congress to co-sponsor and pass the Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act (H.R. 425/S. 100). This bill would ensure a full repeal of the Corporate Transparency Act, which requires small businesses with fewer than 20 employees and less than $5 million in profits to register with the federal government in a massive new government database. If a business does not follow this very confusing and burdensome mandate, they could have to pay up to $10,000 in fines and face up to two years in prison.

An updated version of the opinion piece lists Representative Zachary Nunn as a cosponsor H.R. 425. NFIB thanks Reps. Zach Nunn, Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks for supporting of Iowa’s small businesses.

Read the full op-ed here: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/iowa-view/2025/02/20/corporate-transparency-act-cta-burdens-small-business-owners/79217047007/

Mitchell writes:

“As the owner of a family-owned countertop distribution facility in Des Moines, I’ve weathered my share of challenges, supply chain disruptions to labor shortages. But now, Washington has served up a fresh helping of bureaucracy that’s adding an extra burden for me and my fellow business owners: the Corporate Transparency Act, or CTA.

“I understand the importance of financial transparency and fighting criminal activity. But I can’t shake the feeling that legitimate small businesses like mine are carrying a disproportionate burden of this regulatory initiative. We’re not the sophisticated operations with teams of lawyers and compliance officers. We’re the backbone of America’s economy — the family-owned businesses, the local employers, the community supporters who know our customers by name.”