Spotlight on the 117th Congress: Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02)

QWhat skills or perspectives from your background do you apply as a public official?

AI am an attorney by trade, and I saw firsthand how laws and regulations can affect people, for better or worse, on a day-today basis. As a congressman, this has allowed me to focus on the real-life implications of the laws we work on and ensure that policies I support work for the people, not against them.

QHow has being the son of a smallbusiness owner influenced your opinion on the impact of legislation on small business?

AI know from experience how much goes into running a small business. It takes a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication, and nothing is more frustrating than when red tape or intrusive regulations make it harder to help your business thrive. Whenever I’m reviewing a potential new law that would affect small businesses in my district, I consider a question – will this make it easier for small businesses to grow and thrive or more difficult?

QIn your role on the House Committee on Small Business, what do you see as the current biggest threat to small-business owners?

AThe biggest threats to small businesses and business owners today are increased taxation, overregulation and uncertainty. Burdensome taxes and regulations have long been a hinderance to all businesses. Government imposing higher taxes and increasing bureaucratic red tape will always prevent a small business from growing, thriving and advancing into success. Uncertainty is a product of taxes and regulations, but in this current pandemic state, small businesses are unsure if they will be able to open their doors based on state or local health directives. These small-business owners have had their livelihoods stripped from them because of shutdowns and mandates and need to be given the opportunity to do what is best for them as business owners.

Q What challenges have you helped small businesses in your district overcome?

AManeuvering government bureaucracy is difficult, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic and the implementation of new Small Business Administration (SBA) programs and loan opportunities. Since taking office, I have been active in making sure the small-business community on Long Island has the resources necessary to take advantage of any program that any small business wants to apply for. My district office has worked with our local SBA office to create an environment of collaboration and responsiveness. We work hand-in-hand to provide feedback and resources to our area’s small businesses. I look forward to continuing that relationship with the local SBA and providing services to business owners across Long Island.

QIn what ways are you seeking feedback from small businesses in your district in New York and using that information in Washington, D.C.?

ASmall-business owners are in the best position to determine what they need and don’t need from Congress, which is why it’s important to me to keep an open line of communication with the business community. Last year, I created a Small Business Advisory Council made up of small businesses from across my district and representatives from local chambers of commerce. My meetings with this council have become a forum for local business leaders to share their needs and frustrations for me to take back to Washington, as well as opportunities for me to provide information about federal resources available to our small-business community. For legislation to work in the real world, we need the input of the real people the new policy would impact.

QYou are a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus in Congress. How do groups like this benefit the business community and the nation?

APolitics today is fractured. However, I firmly believe that there is more that unites us as Americans than divides us. That’s where groups like the Problem Solvers Caucus come in to work toward bipartisan solutions through civility, mutual respect and open discussion of the issues. Members of Congress are sent to Washington to represent their home districts and to pursue legislation that will impact their constituents. Not every bill gets consideration in committee or on the floor, but proper discussions and building support happen within open-minded caucuses and groups such as Problem Solvers. Such collaboration will always be beneficial to how Congress functions and to the future of our nation’s politics. n

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