ICYMI: Rep. Smucker in York Daily Record: From Main Street to family farms, small businesses power region

WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, Rep. Smucker (PA-11), Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee and senior member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, published an op-ed in recognition of Small Business Week in the York Daily Record, highlighting the ways small businesses bolster our economy.

"As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, it's worth remembering that America has always depended on people willing to bet on themselves. That same spirit is alive today in the small business owners across our region."

Rep. Smucker was the lead sponsor of the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, legislation to make permanent the 20 percent deduction of qualified income for passthrough businesses. First enacted under the landmark 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Section 199A), the deduction was made permanent through the Working Families Tax Cuts.

"Many small businesses are structured as "pass-through" entities, meaning their business income is reported on the owner's personal tax return rather than being taxed as a corporation. The deduction helps ensure those businesses are not placed at a disadvantage compared to larger corporations benefitting from the 21% corporate tax rate."

Read the full Op-Ed here.

Small Business Week is a chance to recognize the hard work of the people across York and Lancaster counties who built the businesses that anchor our communities. Our communities are built by people who take a chance on themselves to open a business, hire their neighbors, and keep Main Street moving.

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, it's worth remembering that America has always depended on people willing to bet on themselves. That same spirit is alive today in the small business owners across our region.

From manufacturers to restaurants, farms, and service providers, small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. They create jobs, support local charities, and help define the character of our towns.

For me, this isn't just policy. It's personal.

I grew up in Lancaster County as the 10th of 12 children born into an Old Order Amish family. I was the first in my family to attend high school, paying my tuition by hanging drywall for an older brother's small company. After graduating, I bought that small business for $1,000. Over the next 25 years, we grew it to employ more than 150 people. I know firsthand how hard it is to run a business and how much the right policies matter.

That's why I've focused on delivering real results for small businesses.

Last year, legislation I introduced, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, was signed into law. It makes the small business tax deduction (Section 199A) permanent. This provision was designed to ensure small businesses are treated fairly in the tax code.

Many small businesses are structured as "pass-through" entities, meaning their business income is reported on the owner's personal tax return rather than being taxed as a corporation. The deduction helps ensure those businesses are not placed at a disadvantage compared to larger corporations benefitting from the 21% corporate tax rate.

For years, business owners faced uncertainty about whether this deduction would expire. Now they can plan and invest with confidence.

That certainty makes a difference.

I think of Marci and Wendy Bittner, sisters-in-law who own a small construction business in Spring Grove. Like many entrepreneurs, they reinvest what they earn back into their business. With the help of tax relief, they were able to replace an old company vehicle, known as "Stinky" after years on the road, with a new one that will help them keep serving customers across the region.

It's a simple example, but it shows how small businesses operate. When they get relief, they put it to work.

The same is true for our farmers. I spoke with a dairy farmer in Manor Township, Lancaster County, who milks about 200 cows. In a business with tight margins, the small business tax deduction provides about $75,000 each year for his family-run operation. That kind of support helps keep the farm running and makes it more likely it can be passed on to the next generation. Across Pennsylvania's 11th District, more than 6,000 family farms depend on policies like this to stay viable.

We see the impact on manufacturing as well. At a roundtable I hosted in southern York County, Eric Paules of Crescent Industries in New Freedom shared how the small business tax deduction has saved his company more than $380,000 over the past several years. He told me those savings went right back into the business. They invested in new equipment, raised their wages, and redeveloped a long-vacant building into a modern facility that now supports additional local businesses. His company employs about 150 people and has never laid off a moldmaker in its 75-year history.

Policies like immediate expensing for manufacturing capital investments will make it easier for businesses to invest in themselves. It allows companies to upgrade equipment, stay competitive, and keep and grow jobs here.

Stories like these are common across York and Lancaster counties. Small and mid-sized businesses, especially in manufacturing and agriculture, drive our local economy. They often operate on tight margins, and predictable tax policy can make the difference between hiring and investing or standing still.

Just as important is making sure businesses can find workers. Employers across our region tell me the same thing I experienced growing my own business: finding skilled, reliable people isn't always easy. We need to strengthen workforce development, expand training opportunities, and help more people reenter the workforce and build careers.

Supporting small businesses means creating an environment where hard work pays off and growth is possible.

During Small Business Week, we recognize the people who take that risk every day. In Congress, our responsibility is to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed.

I will continue working to make sure Washington understands what Main Street needs, because when our small businesses succeed, our communities do too.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker is a Republican representing Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District, including Lancaster County and southern York County.