Congressman Don Davis Introduces Legislation Providing Eastern North Carolina Small Businesses with a National Platform

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) and Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) introduced H.R. 6855, the White House Conference on Small Business Act, which would restart the White House Conference on Small Business and bring together small business owners from all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The White House Conference on Small Business Act establishes a structured, recurring forum for small business owners to provide direct input to the White House and Congress on economic and regulatory issues. By focusing on state-level meetings, this legislation ensures local voices are represented nationally, strengthens connections, and fosters future small business leadership. 

“After three decades since the last White House Conference on Small Business, it's more crucial than ever to give small business owners a meaningful national platform to voice their concerns. Innovations have significantly reshaped the landscape of small businesses,” said Congressman Davis. “Small businesses drive our economy and are vital to our communities and future.”

“As a member of the House Committee on Small Business, I know the importance of making sure our small, family-owned businesses have their voices heard at the federal level. This bipartisan legislation reignites meaningful conversations between the small business community and the White House, ensuring small businesses from every state and background have a seat at the table,” said Congressman Finstad.

The legislation has earned support from a broad coalition of business organizations, including the National Small Business Association and the Minority Business RoundTable: 

“I applaud Reps. Brad Finstad (R-Minn.) and Don Davis (D-N.C.) for their bipartisan leadership in introducing legislation to authorize a White House Conference on Small Business. It’s been more than 30 years since the last Conference and small businesses desperately need the renewed focus from policymakers that this kind of convening would create,” said Todd McCracken, President and CEO, National Small Business Association.

“On behalf of our national board, MBRT strongly supports convening a White House Conference on Small Business that will provide business owners across the country a voice and forum in economic policies that impact their businesses. I attended the last national conference which occurred in 1995 during the Presidency of Bill Clinton 30 years ago. That conference led to 60 policy recommendations. It’s long past due to fully engage businesses with policymakers to effect meaningful changes that level the playing field making it easier to compete and create American jobs,” said Roger A. Campos, Founder and Chairman, Minority Business RoundTable.

Supporting Organizations: American Franchisee Association, American Subcontractors Association, Associated General Contractors for America, Business Coalition for Fair Competition, Coalition for the next White House Conference on Small Business, Health Agents for America, Independent Electrical Contractor, International Hearing Society, Land Improvement Contractors Association, Minority Business RoundTable, National Small Business Association, National Society of Professional Surveyors, OHI-Outdoor Hospitality Industry, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, Subsurface Utility Engineering Association, The Transportation Alliance, U.S. Geospatial Executives Organization, United Motorcoach Association, and Workplace Solutions Association

Background: The White House has previously convened three White House Conferences on Small Business, held in 1980, 1986, and 1995. The first conference was authorized by executive order under President Ronald Reagan, while the subsequent conferences were approved by Congress.