Congressman Bob Good (R-Va.) introduced H.R. 3400, the Small Businesses Before Bureaucrats Act, which would update the 1958 jurisdictional standards of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to reflect modern revenue levels and ensure that such standards accurately reflect the growth in the economy each year.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and the backbone of our communities,” said Good. “The NLRB has used outdated standards to impose greater power over businesses which never should have been regulated by the Federal Government in the first place. This is consistent with Biden Administration’s weaponization of federal agencies against everyday Americans to implement its radical agenda. Unelected bureaucrats should not be empowered to cripple small business owners with burdensome regulations and tilt the playing field in favor of union bosses. Our nation’s small businesses should be able to operate as freely as possible without government intervention. My legislation is a step towards helping them do just that.”
Although the NLRB’s original purpose was to serve as a mediator between business disputes, the Biden Administration has politicized the board, emboldening bureaucrats to wield their authority against small businesses across America. Since 1958, the NRLB has maintained authority over any retail business whose annual revenue is over $500,000, and over non-retailers whose annual revenue is over $50,000. By updating the jurisdictional standards of the NLRB to $5,000,000 for retail businesses and $500,000 for non-retail businesses, the number of businesses that fall under NLRB’s regulatory regime would decrease dramatically. Upon implementation of this bill, more than 50% of retail and non-retail businesses will be exempt and relieved from NLRB jurisdiction.
“The Biden NLRB has repeatedly overstepped its bounds. The last thing Americans need is for their small businesses to be targeted at much higher rates than Congress ever intended for the agency. The nominal thresholds of $50,000 for retailers and $500,000 for nonretailers have not been updated in over 60 years and today the inflation-adjusted amounts would be 10x higher. Congressman Bob Good’s Small Businesses Before Bureaucrats Act will return the NLRB to its originally intended limits and allow small businesses in the United States to flourish without threat of bureaucratic overreach.” – Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform
“Labor law is woefully out of date. The Small Businesses Before Bureaucrats Act brings much needed updates to the jurisdictional standards that would benefit small employers. Congressman Good is simply bringing those standards in line with what Congress originally intended. Small businesses do not have and should not need an army of lawyers and HR professionals to comply with the NLRB’s increasingly aggressive regulatory agenda. Congressman Good should be applauded for his efforts to protect mom and pop shop businesses and other job creators.” – F. Vincent Vernuccio, President, Institute for the American Worker
“From day one, the Biden Administration has sought to weaponize the NLRB to increase the power of union leadership at the expense of workers and small businesses. While federal labor law is in need of many reforms to protect workers and entrepreneurs from overzealous bureaucrats, Rep. Good’s legislation helps ensure that the agency’s jurisdictional standards make sense for the 21st century economy, allowing more small businesses to operate without fear of the federal government needlessly infringing on their ability to create value in their communities. We applaud Rep. Good for his efforts to protect worker freedom and entrepreneurship in America.” – Akash Chougule, Vice President of Government Affairs, Americans for Prosperity
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Cosponsors (16): Perry (PA), Moolenaar (MI), Miller (IL), Tiffany (WI), Duncan (SC), Burlison (MO), Weber (TX), Franklin (FL), Luna (FL), Clyde (GA), Norman (SC), Van Duyne (TX), Babin (TX), Cole (OK), Estes (KS), Cline (VA)
Supporting Groups (4): Americans for Tax Reform, Institute for the American Worker, Americans for Prosperity, Heritage Action
