SBE Council Support Letter for Paul Atkins as SEC Chair

By SBE Council at 26 March, 2025, 10:31 am

The Honorable Tim Scott
Chairman
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Elizabeth Warren
Ranking Member
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Warren:

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) and our nationwide network of small business owners and entrepreneurs strongly support the nomination of Paul Atkins as Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The SEC plays a vital role in ensuring that capital markets remain efficient, fair, and accessible to entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking investment to grow, innovate and compete in the global marketplace. Excessive and unpredictable regulatory actions have created barriers for small firms, particularly in emerging sectors like digital assets and financial technology. Without clear and measured regulatory frameworks, access to capital and American innovation have been constrained, creating uncertainty that discourages investment and limits the ability of entrepreneurs to bring cutting-edge solutions to market.

Moreover, over the past four years, the SEC has limited its outreach and accessibility to startups and small businesses. Entrepreneurs do not feel they are being heard or have a seat at the table. This needs to change, and we are confident that Mr. Atkins will restore an inclusive approach, by opening its doors to small business feedback, concerns and ideas.

The combination of experience, commitment to regulatory transparency, and his advocacy for policies that foster innovation and capital formation make Mr. Atkins an outstanding choice to lead the SEC. As a former SEC Commissioner (2002-2008), Mr. Atkins consistently advocated for transparency and consistency in regulatory decision-making, ensuring that policies serve investors, small businesses, and the broader economy.

If our economy is to return to strong growth and entrepreneurial opportunity, the SEC must return to a more balanced and reasoned approach to oversight and rulemaking. Policy making must be driven by facts, not politics or ideology.

SBE Council is confident that Mr. Atkins' leadership will be instrumental in advancing policy modernization that strengthens U.S. capital markets, while maintaining strong investor protections. His commitment to fair and predictable regulatory oversight and rulemaking will also help expand access to capital for startups and small business owners, ensuring that entrepreneurs can more easily secure the funding they need to launch and scale their businesses.

The SBE Council urges the Committee to advance the nomination of Paul Atkins as SEC Chair without delay. Thank you for considering our views and for your ongoing commitment to policies that support small businesses and entrepreneurship.

Sincerely,

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Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO