Standing Up for Small Business: Why We’re Supporting the Prove It Act of 2025
At the Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, supporting small businesses goes far beyond ribbon cuttings, networking events, and celebrations. It also means advocating—often behind the scenes—for policies that allow local businesses to grow, compete, and thrive.
That’s why we are joining chambers across the country in support of the Prove It Act of 2025 (H.R. 1163), bipartisan legislation aimed at ensuring small businesses have a stronger, more meaningful voice when federal regulations are created.
Why This Matters to Crawford County Businesses
Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. From retailers and service providers to manufacturers and family-owned shops, many Crawford County businesses operate with limited time and resources. When new federal regulations are introduced without fully considering their impact, those businesses can feel the effects immediately.
Federal agencies are already required under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) to evaluate how regulations affect small businesses. Unfortunately, those impacts are often underestimated—or overlooked altogether.
When that happens, small businesses may face regulations that:
- Increase operational costs
- Add unnecessary administrative requirements
- Create unintended challenges to growth
All without having a meaningful opportunity to provide input.
What the Prove It Act Does
The Prove It Act strengthens accountability and transparency in the regulatory process.
If enacted, the bill would:
- Require federal agencies to clearly demonstrate how proposed regulations affect small businesses
- Ensure small business voices are included earlier in the rulemaking process
- Allow chambers of commerce and small business advocates to challenge unsupported claims that a rule has “no impact”
- Encourage review—and removal—of outdated or unnecessary regulations
In short, when an agency says a rule won’t affect small businesses, this legislation requires them to prove it.
Why the Crawford County Chamber Supports This Effort
As your local Chamber, our role is to advocate for a business environment where As your local Chamber of Commerce, advocacy is a core part of our mission. Supporting the Prove It Act is one way we can help create a stronger business environment for our members.
By supporting this legislation, we are working to:
- Amplify the voices of Crawford County businesses
- Reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens
- Ensure decisions made at the federal level reflect the realities of small-town and rural businesses
This matters because policies developed far from our community still have real consequences for the businesses that call Crawford County home.
Advocacy Beyond Our Community
Although the Prove It Act is federal legislation, its impact reaches all the way to Main Street.
By signing onto a coalition effort alongside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and chambers across the nation, we are helping ensure that Crawford County has a seat at the table in conversations that shape the future of small business.
Our Commitment to You
Advocacy may not always be immediately visible, but it is always ongoing.
The Crawford County Chamber of Commerce will continue to:
- Monitor legislation that impacts our members
- Speak up on behalf of local businesses
- Collaborate with partners at the state and national level to drive positive change
Because when small businesses succeed, our entire community thrives.
Want to stay informed about legislation impacting local businesses? Follow the Crawford County Chamber of Commerce or contact us to learn more.amber of Commerce or contact us to learn more.