Chairman Williams Op-Ed: Celebrating the Main Streets that Make America Great

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Tuesday, May 5, the following Op-Ed by Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, appeared in The Hill.

"During National Small Business Week, we don't just celebrate America's entrepreneurs; we honor them, support them, and stand proudly beside them. They are the corner cafés where neighbors gather, the family shops where everyone knows your name, and the first-time ventures built on relentless determination.

"Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities, the backbone of local economies, and proof that the American dream is alive and well. With 36.2 million small businesses across the country - accounting for nearly half of all private-sector jobs, their impact reaches every corner of America.

"House Republicans are committed to making sure Main Street not only survives but thrives. And the results are real.

"According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Working Families Tax Cuts have lowered taxes for over 12 million small business owners by roughly $7,000, a game changer for thousands of local businesses across the country.

"The permanent 20 percent Section 199A Deduction puts an average of $4,600 back in the pockets of 8 million entrepreneurs. That's not just a tax cut - it's new hires, upgraded equipment, and a stronger Main Street.

"Main Street is more than getting by; it is growing. A recent SBE Council survey found that 61 percent of small business owners reported improved cash flow in 2025, and 73 percent expect conditions to continue to improve.

"That optimism matters. It reflects people who are building, growing and believing in the future. It's momentum that supports 7.2 million jobs, raises wages by $7,200, and drives $1.5 trillion in additional small business GDP growth.

"Of course, a tax cut means nothing if criminals are emptying your register every night. For years, under the Biden administration, retail theft was one of the most painful challenges small business owners faced. Proven by the staggering 67 percent of retailers reporting theft, America's small businesses were under constant threat.

"Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and House Republicans, the landscape has changed. We've taken the fight directly to the criminals targeting local businesses, and the results are kicking in where it matters most. Entrepreneurs can now safely open their shops every morning without fear.

"By strengthening enforcement and cracking down on criminal networks that drive retail theft, President Trump has made it clear that Main Street is not fair game. Safer communities mean stronger businesses, and stronger businesses mean more jobs, more growth, and more opportunity.

"Over the past year, we've also cracked down on fraud that exploits taxpayer-backed small business programs, protecting the integrity of the loans, grants, and relief funds that honest entrepreneurs depend on. Restoring accountability ensures those resources reach the entrepreneurs they were meant to support.

"As the chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, I stand with every small business owner who has built an enterprise with their own hands. When we defend Main Street, we are protecting the backbone of America's economy. Because when small businesses win, America wins.

"Small business owners closed out 2025 optimistic, and they have every reason to be. Lower taxes. Safer streets. Less fraud. Less red tape. More room to grow, dream and succeed.

"As we look towards the end of the 119th Congress, we will continue to prove that Washington can work with Main Street instead of against it. At the Committee on Small Business, that means elevating small business voices to inform our committee hearings and legislation.

"And that's what this week is about: celebrating the people who take risks, create jobs and uplift our communities every single day. The innovators. The creators. The ones who make America run."

###