Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05) has released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 3441, the Save Local Business Act:

"It may be cliché to say that “small and local businesses are the backbone of our economy” but at the end of the day, there is no denying that statement. Small businesses truly are the gears that keep our economy moving, and when they suffer, our economy suffers.

“Since 2015, when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) adopted an expanded definition of the “joint employer” standard – upending decades of precedent and redefining who an employer is – there has been much confusion and ambiguity. For example, since then, there have been over 65,000 letters sent to Congress expressing confusion and asking for clarity in the aftermath of this rule.

“Locally owned franchises are America’s unseen small businesses, and in my district alone, there are roughly 2,000 establishments that provide over 15,000 jobs with an economic output of over 1 billion dollars. Small business development, economic growth, and entrepreneurs will continue to be hurt by the NLRB’s excessively broad definition of “joint-employer” until Congress finds a concrete definition – which this piece of legislation will do.

“The Save Local Business Act provides clarity for small and local businesses as to what it means to be a “joint employer,” restoring necessary clarity for employers and employees alike. I am proud to have voted for this bipartisan bill which helps small businesses all across the nation.”

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