Business groups urge senators to pass clean funding bill to reopen federal government

First on Fox: Small business owners are losing billions of dollars in funding due to the government shutdown, as industry leaders published a letter Monday calling on lawmakers to pass a “clean business registry” and reopen the federal government.

“On behalf of our organizations representing millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners, we call on U.S. Senators to put an end to the instability and hardship by passing a clean, continuing resolution, which will allow negotiations to continue on spending measures moving through congress, including the future of COVID appropriations that will expire at the end of the year,” a letter addressed to U.S. Senators across the board and obtained by Fox News Digital for the first time. “The viability of thousands of small businesses is at risk due to the closure, and it is unacceptable that the livelihoods of their owners and employees are being sacrificed for spending demands that can be resolved through the normal system.”

The letter was signed by six industry groups, including the Family Business Alliance, the International Franchise Association, the Job Creators Network, the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors, the National Restaurant Association, and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council.

The government shut down on October 1 after Senate lawmakers failed to reach a funding deal before a midnight deadline. Since then, leaders of both political parties have blamed each other for the shutdown, with Republicans saying Democrats sought taxpayer-funded medical benefits for illegal immigrants in their legislation, while Democrats denied the accusations and claimed Republicans would not come to the negotiating table on health care for citizens.

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The letter urged lawmakers to reopen the government while pointing to a few examples of how Americans are suffering because of the shutdown, including small business owners losing billions in funding.

“According to the Small Business Administration, 4,800 small businesses have been denied access to capital worth $2.5 billion since the shutdown began,” the groups warned. “Every day that the shutdown continues means another 320 small businesses will no longer be able to access the SBA-backed business loans that these businesses have relied on to expand and grow. Hundreds of thousands of workers are impacted by the suspension through furloughs, reduced jobs and wages, along with lost opportunities for local economies.”

The Small Business Administration released data earlier in October showing that 320 small business owners lost $170 million in funding each day due to the shutdown, resulting in at least $2.5 billion in funding that could not be delivered to business owners.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox Digital that the Democrats’ “shutdown” has caused “chaos” sweeping business owners regardless of the size of the company.

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The White House criticized Democrats over the ongoing shutdown that will result in the National Nuclear Security Administration furloughing 80% of its employees. (Getty Images)

“From Wall Street to Main Street, the Democrats’ shutdown has generated unnecessary chaos and economic uncertainty,” Rogers said. “Millions of small businesses and entrepreneurs have made it clear – it is time for Senate Democrats to pass a clean continuing resolution, reopen the government, and stop using Americans as ‘leverage’ for their extremist policies.”

The letter added that disruptions in air travel and shortages of air traffic controllers have affected business owners and consumers, alike, and that small business owners are feeling the pinch of “ever-increasing costs and diminishing options” regarding health care coverage.

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A coalition of six Senate business groups urged lawmakers to reopen the government while pointing to a few examples of how Americans are suffering because of the shutdown, including small business owners losing billions in funding. (Liao Pan/China News Service via Getty Images)

“Regarding the rising cost of health insurance premiums, small businesses have been the hardest hit by years of ever-increasing costs and diminishing options. The expiration of the premium tax credit is only a small part of the reason why many small businesses will see significant increases in premiums for next year. Reducing costs and increasing affordable options will be solved through sweeping reforms that need to be addressed by Congress and the Legislature in the states. Congress must commit to this important mission “well,” the letter said.

“The effects of the shutdown will grow wider with each passing day unless the Senate acts,” the letter read. “Passing a clean registry is a smart, responsible, and bipartisan course of action. It will provide certainty to small business owners, employees, and workers who depend on actions taken by elected officials that produce certainty and stability. We urge every Senator to support a clean registry that allows “Appropriations go forward to ensure the federal government remains open and functioning.”

The lockdown currently has no end in sight. Democrats, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, disagree with Trump traveling to Asia this week to meet foreign leaders.

“Americans deserve a government that works as hard as they do — not a leader who is shirking responsibility at the time they need it most,” Schumer said Friday.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson, when asked about Schumer’s comments, told the media on Monday that “President Trump has entrusted us with fixing this because this is an Article 1 problem.”

“The president did his best, he brought them in before all this madness started, and Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries actually told him to jump the Potomac,” CBS News quoted Johnson as saying. He added: “So it’s up to the Democrats, and everyone knows that. The president said he will meet with them on any issue under the sun. We’re happy to talk about it, but they have to reopen the government first.”