Spotlight on the 117th Congress:
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX-22) Q
much the federal government’s decisions impact businesses. I saw how the increase in federal unemployment benefits has had an adverse effect on small business.
As a first-term member of Congress, what are you learning about the ways that government affects businesses?
A
Regulation on businesses directly impacts their ability to grow and operate. Government’s intrusion into the free market can often harm businesses. A great example of government intrusion harming business is the federal government’s overstimulation of the economy in response to COVID-19. The overstimulation has led to rising inflation and decreased labor participation, both of which are straining businesses.
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Your first job was at a BURGER KING® restaurant. What qualities and perspectives did you develop that you use as a representative?
A
Going through the markup process of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan showed me just how
My team and I have been diligent in aiding small businesses with understanding and accessing the Paycheck Protection Program and other COVID-19 relief programs to help them stay afloat and rebuild. In Congress, I work hard to voice their frustrations with having to compete against the federal government for employees. My own brother, who owns a small business in Wisconsin, told me business picked back up, and he wants to bring on new workers but the same guys he’d pay $17 per hour pre-COVID-19 are saying they want $25 per hour because, they ask, “Why work if you don’t have to?”
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In what ways are you seeking feedback from small businesses in Texas and using that information in Washington, D.C.?
I make trips around my district visiting with business owners and hearing their concerns. They’re telling me that they’re trying to rebuild in the aftermath of COVID-19, and the last thing they want or need is the federal government making that rebuilding more difficult through more regulation and higher taxes. I keep that in mind every time we vote. S
9 SCORE | 2021 Issue 2
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How has your role on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure influenced your opinions on the impact of legislation on small businesses?
What challenges have you helped small businesses in your district overcome?
THE
It showed me the value of working hard for your money. This is the perspective I maintain when evaluating a spending bill. The federal government is spending taxpayer money like it is nothing, the national debt continues to skyrocket and inflation is putting a strain on the little guy. These facts are not lost on the millions upon millions of Americans who work hard for their money.
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