Phillips Statement Ahead of House Budget and Infrastructure Votes

Originally released from the office of Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) August 23, 2021

"As a small business owner and Chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I’ve spent the past two weeks on the ground in Minnesota meeting with and listening to small business owners struggling to stay afloat. This is especially true for the restaurant, live events, hospitality, and fitness industries, which rely on in-person gathering and have been disproportionately impacted by COVID. Too many of these businesses have also been shut out of recent federal and state relief programs.

With countless livelihoods and jobs on the line, I communicated to Democratic leadership this weekend that there must be a targeted relief package for these industries either as part of the reconciliation process or concurrent with it. While I am among many advocating for the bipartisan infrastructure bill to be brought to the floor independent of reconciliation, my support for small businesses takes precedence. Having received the assurances I was seeking, I will be supporting the budget resolution.

Investing in America’s physical infrastructure, children, families, clean energy future, and small businesses should be unifying, and I look forward to ensuring we do so effectively, efficiently, and responsibly."