For three years, small-business optimism has been at record highs. Lower taxes and fewer regulations unleashed the best economy in half a century and gave small businesses the means to hire more employees, pay higher wages, and reinvest capital. These conditions still exist but are being seriously challenged by the coronavirus pandemic, a true “black swan” catastrophe. While our nation continues to fight against this pandemic, we have a responsibility in Congress to help small businesses survive this storm.

As one of America’s main employers, Main Street is the engine of our economy. According to the Small Business Administration, there are more than 30 million small businesses in America and nearly 60 million small-business employees. That is over 47% of the entire workforce. They deserve a government that responds to their needs, especially during moments of crisis.