U.S. Reps Kelly Morrison, Chris Pappas Introduce Legislation to Exempt Small Businesses from Trump’s Tariffs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17h, 2025

CONTACT
press@mainstreetalliance.org

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Kelly Morrison (MN-03) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the Small Business Liberation Act, which would exempt the more than 34 million U.S. small businesses from President Trump’s catastrophically high tariffs enacted on April 2, 2025. 

Small businesses across the country have been raising the alarm that the Trump Administration’s chaotic, costly, and unpredictable tariff war will put them out of business in a matter of weeks or months if nothing is done. 

While Congressional Republicans have ceded all Congressional power and tariff authorities to the President, House Democrats are fighting to protect America’s small businesses and get them the immediate relief they need and deserve. The Small Business Liberation Act was introduced in the Senate last month by Senator Ed Markey, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senator Mazie Hirono. 

Today, Representative Morrison, a member of the House Small Business Committee, and Representative Pappas, a small business owner, introduced the same bill in the House of Representatives alongside half a dozen small business owners from across the country.

The Small Business Liberation Act is endorsed by Small Business Majority, Main Street Alliance, and more than 140 small businesses across the country so far.

Watch the full press conference announcing the introduction of the Small Business Liberation Act HERE:

Read Rep. Morrison’s full remarks introducing the Small Business Liberation Act HERE.

Rep. Morrison is a member of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business. Earlier this spring, Rep. Morrison called on the Trump Administration to provide immediate relief for small business owners from President Trump’s reckless, unnecessary, and unpredictable trade war. Just last week, Rep. Morrison pressed the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler to support tariff exemptions for small businesses. Administrator Loeffler refused to commit her support.

“Small businesses across the country have made clear: Trump’s tariffs are posing an existential threat to their business,” said Congresswoman Kelly Morrison. “Today, we’re introducing legislation to give them the immediate relief they need to survive. Article 1 of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to levy tariffs – and it’s time Congress reclaims its power and does its job. This bill has now been introduced in the House and the Senate – and we need the Republican majority to stand up for America’s 34 million small businesses and bring this to a vote immediately. Our small business owners don’t have the luxury of time – we need to act now.”

“This administration’s reckless tariffs are effectively a national sales tax on businesses and families. I’ve heard directly from New Hampshire businesses about how deeply these tariffs will hurt their bottom lines. That’s why I’m pushing legislation that would rein in the President’s indiscriminate, wide-sweeping tariffs announced earlier this year,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “The Small Business Liberation Act would exempt all small businesses from the tariffs announced by the Trump administration on Liberation Day. While the President and Republicans in Congress are turning their back on working families, I remain committed to continuing to fight to lower costs, support small businesses, and strengthen our economy.”

“Small Business Majority’s research found that 53% of small businesses are concerned about tariffs negatively impacting their business and 77% are concerned about having a negative impact on the U.S. economy as a whole,” said John Arensmeyer, Founder and CEO of Small Business Majority. “These concerns aren’t theoretical – millions of small firms are struggling right now with increased costs, finding new sources of supplies and navigating the uncertainty of tariffs that are on one day and put on hold the next. Small businesses have nowhere else to turn for help but Congress, and they need lawmakers to step in and stop this paralyzing and destructive cycle before irreparable harm is done to our nation’s job creators."

“Main Street Alliance members from across the US have been contacting our team about the real impact of tariffs on their businesses. 81.5% of respondents to our recent survey indicated that they will raise prices on consumers to offset the costs from tariffs. 31.5% of respondents indicated that they would lay off employees as a result of the tariffs. The continued unpredictability, self-dealing, and conflicting rationale for the trade war will hollow out Main Street and large Corporations will pick up the scraps. That’s why MSA strongly supports the Small Business Liberation Act. Let’s get it done,” said Richard Trent, Main Street Alliance Executive Director.

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

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