NFIB recently released a new In Their Own Words video featuring Tina Miller, owner of Walkabout Outfitter in Virginia. The video series features small business owners speaking out against tax hikes and new mandates being considered in Congress.

Between the six Walkabout Outfitter locations, Tina employs 30 to 40 employees.

“At the end of the day I think one thing that’s really important for people to realize, for the government to realize, is that small businesses are huge in the economy,” Tina explains. “I mean, if we continue to do regulations, as well as taxation, that hurts small businesses, and we go out of business that ends up being (lost) jobs. In our case, somewhere between 30 and 40 people would lose their jobs. Make it so that small businesses can stay in business and at the end of the day that means growth for the Virginia economy. And be proactive in that instead of just reactive to when small businesses keep fighting and begging you to please not do these things that hurt us.”

Brad Scott, owner of jewelry business Halstead Bead in Prescott, Arizona, spoke out in a February video for the In Their Own Words series. Halstead Bead has been in business since 1973 and currently employs 29 employees.

“As a small business, we are finding ourselves increasingly burdened by an expansion of regulatory demands and frankly, a complicated tax code…the greater number of regulations, the more difficult it is for us to actually be able to perform in this environment, and I know that small businesses are frequently referred to as the backbone of America. I think there’s a lot of truth in that…but if small businesses can continue to survive, legislators need to know there’s a large difference between the major corporations and small businesses.”

The video series “In Their Own Words” features small business owners from around the country. It is part of NFIB’s Small Business Survival campaign, a coordinated advocacy effort that highlights why tax increases would be harmful to America’s small businesses while holding members of Congress accountable for their support of tax hikes and mandates.

To join in the fight to stop the Build Back Better Act’s small business tax increases and mandates still being considered in Congress, please consider emailing your U.S. Senators and Representative your concerns about the proposed Small Business Surtax, increased penalties, and inflexible mandated Paid Family and Medical Leave Program.