Contact:
Elizabeth Fairchild
efairchild@businessfwd.org
202-861-1270

Washington, DC — Last night, President Biden delivered his State of the Union address to the American people. Liz Fairchild, Executive Director of Business Forward, issued the following statement in response: 

“Since President Biden took office last year, America’s 32.5 million small businesses have made it clear what issues matter to their business, their employees, and their communities. Last night, the President spoke directly to these key issues, including rising costs, attacks on our democracy, and upholding America’s rule of law. 

President Biden highlighted the urgent need to confirm his nominees to the Federal Reserve, which he emphasized would play a “critical role” in fighting inflation and explained how a timely confirmation process will advance his plan to bring costs down for working families and lower the deficit.

Local business leaders know that a responsive government is essential to a strong economy, and amid a critical moment for democracies around the world, the President reiterated the importance of prioritizing transparency in democracy. He called on the Senate to pass both the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

Less than a week since Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court, small businesses have already vocalized widespread support, including within our network. President Biden used last night’s address to describe Judge Jackson as a “consensus builder” who has immediately received broad support from across the aisle.

I urge our elected officials to take these critical measures in support of the small business community, the backbone of our nation’s economy.”

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ABOUT BUSINESS FORWARD

Business Forward helps local business leaders make the “business case” for climate action, affordable healthcare, immigration reform, diversity and inclusion, sensible tax laws, criminal justice reform, infrastructure investment, and other pro-growth reforms. These leaders brief policymakers, work with local media, publish op-eds, submit testimony, advocate online, and organize their communities. We also promote their recommendations through issue briefs, survey reports, training manuals, and podcasts. More than 650 mayors, governors, members of Congress, and senior Administration officials have participated in our briefings.