FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact
Nazirah Ahmad 

nazirah@emccommunications.com  

704-290-6869

Small business needs economic stability and a focus on bottom-line needs from policymakers

Statement by Walt Rowen, President of Susquehanna Glass Company in Columbia, Pennsylvania and Small Business for America's Future Co-Chair on President Trump’s address to Congress

COLUMBIA, Pa, March 4, 2025 – “As President Trump addresses Congress tonight, we urge the administration to prioritize economic stability and focus on practical policies that will have a positive impact on the bottom lines of small businesses. The recent wave of disruptive policies, including slapping punitive tariffs on our most important trading partners, has created an environment of uncertainty that threatens small business growth. What Main Street needs are concrete solutions that address our real challenges, not policies that increase costs and make business planning virtually impossible.

“The escalating tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada are not the actions small businesses need to thrive. As a small business owner in Columbia, Pennsylvania, I’ve already seen how these trade policies increase costs and disrupt our supply chains. Tariffs function as taxes ultimately paid by small businesses and American consumers.

“In addition, we’re seeing reckless cuts to government agencies that serve us and our customers. Small business owners depend on effective government services—from the Small Business Administration to Veterans Affairs to the Department of Transportation—for their day to day operations. I’ve seen how the unpredictability surrounding the economic fallout from dramatic government cuts makes business owners hesitant to invest in expansion. This is particularly concerning for veteran-owned small businesses, which employ nearly 5.5 million Americans. In addition, veterans make up 30% of the federal workforce and are vital contributors to our small business economy. 

“This economic hesitation, compounded by destabilizing policy shifts like new tariffs, creates an environment where small businesses cannot confidently plan for the future. Business owners require stability and predictability from their government to make sound business decisions. Without it, we face the real possibility of fewer new jobs and diminished economic activity across communities nationwide.

“What Main Street America needs instead is a focus on lowering the costs that eat into small businesses’ bottom lines: policies that rein in the soaring healthcare costs that have burdened small employers for decades, 88% of small business owners believe the prescription drug pricing market needs to be changed. Main Street also needs a tax code that supports small business success and creates a level playing field rather than favoring large corporations; and improved access to capital. Our recent survey found that 72% of small business owners believe the current tax code favors large corporations over small businesses – a fundamental imbalance that must be addressed.

“Small businesses are the backbone of local economies nationwide, creating nearly two-thirds of new jobs in America. The prosperity of our nation depends on ensuring small businesses have the stability, resources, and level playing field they need to succeed.”

To request an interview, contact Nazirah Ahmad at (704) 290-6869 or nazirah@emccommunications.com.

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About Small Business for America's Future
Small Business for America's Future is a national coalition of small business owners and leaders working to provide small businesses a voice at every level of government. We're committed to ensuring policymakers prioritize the nation's 30 million small businesses to create an economy that works for them, their workers and their communities. Visit www.smallbusinessforamericasfuture.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. #SmallBizAF.