news

As the world prepares to celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd, Democrats of the House Committee on Small Business released a report today detailing how the Trump Administration’s environmental rollbacks threaten the vitality of America’s small business economy.  

“This Earth Day, we are reminded that policies to protect and preserve our environment also play a key role in fostering entrepreneurship,” said Ranking Member Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY). “In actions ranging from executive orders and Presidential appointments to budget proposals and attacks on science, the Trump Administration has wreaked havoc on crucial environmental protections.” 

While President Trump has dismissed climate change as a “hoax,” the report notes that a changing climate is already making disasters more commonplace. The report specifically cites evidence that human-caused climate change made record rainfall over Houston 15 percent greater than it would have been otherwise. Additionally, 2017 marked the costliest year for natural disaster ever recorded in the United States. 

“Make no mistake, the small business community is no exception to the destruction fueled by the Trump Administration’s climate change denial policies,” said Velázquez. “An increase in natural disasters will likely cause small firms to experience labor supply challenges, higher energy costs, and industry specific challenges.”  

When natural disaster strikes, small businesses are more likely to suffer permanent closures than their larger counterparts. According to evidence compiled in the report, within a year, 30 percent of businesses hit by Hurricane Sandy had permanently closed and more than five months after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, 10,000 businesses, almost 20 percent of the island’s total, remained closed and the overall economy was struggling to recover. 

“While a natural disaster is devastating for entire communities, local businesses often face an especially profound loss,” said Velázquez. “The inability to consider the consequences of climate change and disregard of methods to address and capitalize on measures to prevent it, is a lost opportunity for America’s small business community.” 

Furthermore, Democrats condemned the Trump Administration’s environmental regulatory rollbacks and budget cuts. Under President Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tried to reverse 63 environmental rules. Moreover, the President’s budget proposes cutting the EPA by 30 percent and drastically reducing staff. 

“The EPA was designed to ensure that all Americans have clean, air and water,” said Velázquez. “Instead of working towards this goal, the Trump Administration has sided with industry lobbyists, all while gutting stalwart environmental protections.” 

In the report, Democrats stress the longstanding role of small firms in the clean energy sector. The solar sector alone is dominated by small firms, of the 9,000 companies in the solar sector, 78% of them have 50 employees or fewer. 

“Time and again, small companies have proven to be resilient and highly adaptive when it comes to energy efficiency,” said Velázquez. “The federal government should be capitalizing on the strength of America’s entrepreneurs and small business community instead of attacking the very source of jobs and competitiveness.” 

To conclude, Democrats pressed for environmental policies that encourage small businesses to compete in the clean energy sector and allow America to rejoin the rest of the world in promoting sustainable climate solutions.

For a PDF of the report, click here.