EIW Today - May 1st, 2025

Prism Group's Daily Summary

ROUNDTABLE HIGHLIGHTS HARMFUL IMPACT OF ANTI-COMPETITIVE REGULATIONS... The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy yesterday convened a roundtable to solicit feedback on federal and state regulations that limit competition and disproportionately burden small businesses. Prism Group staff was in attendance and, along with other small business community representatives, discussed how certain rules raise compliance costs, block market entry, and favor dominant players over new or smaller competitors. The discussion will help inform ongoing efforts by the Department of Justice to identify and roll back anti-competitive policies across key sectors like housing, healthcare, and transportation.

COMMERCE SECRETARY LUTNICK DOUBLES DOWN ON DE MINIMIS REPEAL... At a cabinet meeting yesterday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick praised President Trump’s decision to do away with the duty-free de minimis treatment for specified imports, touting what he described as a benefit for small businesses: “And then, of course, you got rid of de minimis, and what happened is these foreign countries were sending in little packages for free, knocking out our mom-and-pop businesses across America. You put an end to it, and you’re going to rebuild the mom-and-pop and the small businesses of America.”

SBA ANNOUNCES NEW GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT MADE IN AMERICA MANUFACTURING... The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced a new funding opportunity under its Made in America Manufacturing Initiative aimed at revitalizing the U.S. industrial base and supporting small manufacturers. Through the Manufacturing in America Grant Initiative, the SBA will award up to $1.1 million to three eligible organizations to deliver targeted training and technical assistance to small businesses in critical sectors such as timber, energy, aluminum, and steel. This effort, tied to the SBA’s Empower to Grow (E2G) Program, will help small manufacturers enhance operations, expand hiring, and increase their competitiveness in government contracting.

RECENT COLLEGE GRADS STRUGGLE TO FIND JOBS... Data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that the unemployment rate for recent college graduates has increased from 4.8% to 5.8% in the first quarter of 2025. Some argue that AI is to blame, while other experts believe economic volatility drove that rate up. 

THE STATE OF THE STATES

SESSIONS BY THE NUMBERS: 

Thirty-four states are in regular session. Maine is in special session.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING: 

California is continuing to implement Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) Executive Order on Generative Artificial Intelligence(GenAI), with Governor Newsom announcing the state has entered into three new agreements to utilize GenAI to reduce highway congestion, improve roadway safety, and enhance customer service in a state call center.  The announcement is part of Governor Newsom’s ongoing strategy to implement technologies and practices that make state operations more efficient and responsive.

State Republican lawmakers and some Maine business groups continue to press for changes to the state's paid family medical leave law before it kicks in next year. The law will allow eligible workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid time off to care for themselves or a sick family member or to bond with a newborn, an adopted child or a foster child. The program is paid for with a wage tax of either 0.5% or 1%, depending on the size of the business, that is jointly paid by employers and workers.

LAWMAKERS... IN OR OUT?

The House... convenes today at 9:00 AM. The full schedule may be found here.

The Senate... convenes today at 10:00 AM. The full schedule may be found here.

HAPPENING ON THE HILL

The House...

Check back next week for further updates.

The Senate...     

Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs will hold a hearing TODAY, 5/1 at 10:00 AM entitled, “Examining Insurance Markets and the Role of Mitigation Policies.”

Committee on Judiciary will hold a hearing TODAY, 5/1 at 10:15 AM entitled, “Executive Business Meeting.”

BILLS OF INTEREST

The House Committee on Small Business will hold a markup of legislation to amend the following seven measures. The markup will be held at 9:45 AM ET on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The items that will be marked up include:

• H.R. 1163 – Prove It Act of 2025

• H.R. 2027 – Returning SBA to Main Street Act

• H.R. 2987 – Capping Excessive Awarding of SBLC Entrants (CEASE) Act

• H.R. 2931 – Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act

• H.R. 2968 – Business over Ballots Act

• H.R. 2965 – Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act of 2025

• H.R. 2966 – American Entrepreneurs First Act

AT THE AGENCIES

The U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer celebrated National Apprenticeship Day today by welcoming the International Association of Fire Fighters for a ceremonial signing event highlighting the importance of apprenticeships and ways the program can unlock a multitude of possibilities for the American worker.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury

U.S. Department of the Treasury released a report to the Secretary of the Treasury from the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee.

The U.S. Department of Commerce

Check back next week for possible updates.

The U.S. Trade Representative

Check back next week for possible updates.

The U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a new funding opportunity as part of its Made in America Manufacturing Initiative, the agency’s targeted effort to restore the U.S industrial base, bring back American jobs, and promote our nation’s economic dominance and national security.

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