Rep. Roger Williams says tax cuts and deregulation would help small businesses amid price pressures

Rep. Roger Williams (R-Tex.), chairman of the House Small Business Committee, said permanent tax cuts and fewer regulatory burdens would help small businesses navigate current price pressures. Speaking during an interview timed to National Small Business Week, Williams said Main Street entrepreneurs "are excited" about prospective legislation that would lower taxes and ease regulatory compliance.

The interview came after the host cited a Federal Reserve survey showing that 77% of small businesses identified tariffs and inflation as a financial challenge. The host asked what message Williams had for owners worried about rising costs; Williams replied that small businesses are resilient and should focus on maintaining profitability while policymakers work to reduce taxes and cut regulatory hurdles.

Williams pointed to manufacturing and family farms as sectors that stand to benefit from reduced regulation and tax changes. Some phrasing in the broadcast transcript is unclear on finer policy details; the interview transcript references proposals to make tax cuts permanent and to alter specific tax treatments, but did not provide bill numbers or statutory citations.

Williams and the host also noted a potential local demand boost, saying the Dallas–Fort Worth area is gearing up for the World Cup this summer and could see increased Main Street activity.

Why it matters: More than 36 million businesses are classified as small in the United States, making federal tax and regulatory policy influential for broad swaths of the economy. The Federal Reserve survey cited during the interview indicates many small firms are feeling strain from tariffs and inflation, underscoring the stakes of tax and trade policy for Main Street.

What’s next: Williams did not identify specific legislation by number during the interview. The host closed the segment after asking a final, separate question about foreign policy.