California Members Press the Small Business Case with Congress

June 16, 2023

California Members Press the Small Business Case with Congress

NFIB California thanks its members who made it to Washington D.C. this year to join fellow small-business owners from around the nation to press Congress to pass legislation beneficial for the Main Streets of America. As NFIB President and CEO Brad Close pointed out, “Legislators rarely hear from small business owners in their districts and states. Most of them have never owned a business. Most of them don’t know what you go through on a daily basis. They need to learn what it means to run a business, to employ people, to take a risk, to pay employees and not pay yourself. Also, they need to hear what it’s like to deal with supply chain disruptions, worker shortages, and inflation. Hearing it from you directly is key.” During the three days of meetings (June 12-14) and visits from congressional leaders, California NFIB members met with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, U.S. Reps. John Duarte (an NFIB member) and Young Kim. They also met with the staffs of U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and U.S. Reps. Ken Calvert and Kevin Kiley. “California is blessed to have not only a speaker of the U.S. House from here, but also one who owned a small business and remembers what it took to stay solvent and keep providing a paycheck to employees,” said John Kabateck, NFIB’s California state director. “This was a mutually beneficial trip for NFIB members and the lawmakers they met with.” Click the link above with Brad Close’s quote to read more about NFIB’s congressional agenda and some of the activities held for the Fly-In.

NFIB California members meet with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during annual Fly-In event. Photo taken by NFIB Grassroots Manager Taylor Criddle.

U.S. Reps. John Duarte, closest to the window, and Young Kim, yellow jacket, meet with members of NFIB California’s leadership council.