NFIB recently presented its prestigious Guardian of Small Business Awards to 203 Representatives and 52 Senators. The Guardian of Small Business award is the most prestigious honor that NFIB bestows on legislators in recognition of their votes on key issues to support small business. The 2022 awards were given out over the course of two days and recipients met with NFIB President Brad Close to receive their award.

“The NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award is presented to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate who have proven themselves to be real champions of small business,” said Brad Close, NFIB President and CEO. “These NFIB Guardians demonstrated strong support of small businesses on key issues. NFIB is unique in that we only represent small and independent businesses, and our members decide our policy positions. We are proud to recognize the elected officials from the 117^th Congress who earned this distinction by taking pro-small business votes on issues that would have threatened Main Street’s economic recovery.”

This award is reserved for lawmakers who vote consistently with small business on the key issues identified by small business owners. Those who voted with small business on key issues 70% or more of the time during the 117^th Congress earned the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award. NFIB informs lawmakers in advance which votes will be considered NFIB Key Votes and asks lawmakers to support the consensus views of our members.

NFIB’s one member, one vote balloting system is how key votes are determined. When a position gains significant majority from NFIB’s small business owner members, it is designated a key vote in the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers are reminded that the results of the key vote will be reported back to the NFIB membership in NFIB’s How Congress Voted report.

The significance of the Guardian of Small Business Awards reaches further than NFIB members. It is beneficial for all voters to be aware of how members of Congress vote on policies that impact Main Streets across the nation. The Guardian Award allows those lawmakers who support small business issues 70% or more of the time to be publicly recognized as someone small business owners and employees can count on for support.

Learn more and find the complete list of the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award recipients from the 117^th Congress.