Congressman Roger Williams, Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, addressed concerns about the ongoing government shutdown and its effects on small businesses across the United States. Speaking alongside House Republican leadership and SBA Administrator Loeffler, Williams highlighted the difficulties faced by Main Street America as a result of what he referred to as the "Schumer Shutdown."
Williams emphasized his experience as both a committee chair and a small business owner. He said, “Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate Administrator Loeffler, and she’s quoted you a lot of numbers, which are all true. But let me just tell you this: I chair the Small Business Committee. I’m a small business owner. I didn’t sell my business 10 years ago. We still have our family business—been in business since 1939. I’ve been in it for 57 years.”
He expressed concern over the impact of the shutdown on local economies and workers: “I know what’s happening on Main Street: when it’s good and when it’s bad, and let me tell you, Main Street is very fearful of the Schumer Shutdown. He is totally holding Main Street America, small business owners, and small business employees at bay because of his future that he’s concerned about. It has nothing to do with it. Main Street is—99% of the businesses are small businesses. 75% of the payroll, 75% of the workforce, is small business.”
Williams described challenges such as meeting payroll and purchasing inventory due to disruptions caused by the shutdown: “I’m worried about that group of people. I’m worried about the fact that they can’t meet payroll. I’m worried about the fact that they can’t buy inventory.”
He also referenced recent actions taken before the shutdown to support manufacturers through increased loan limits: “The other thing we did before the shutdown, that, Administrator thanks to you, is the fact that we raise the loan limits from five to 10 million on manufacturing.”
Williams concluded by urging an end to the shutdown for economic stability: “Risk and reward built this country. Right now, there’s no risk and reward; we’re just playing defense. That will not work. This Shutdown must end immediately—to save small businesses, to save consumers, to save Main Street America.”
He called on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to consider how these issues affect constituents nationwide.
