Small Business Is Personal to Me

My husband, Chef Scott Durrah, and I have built small businesses. We make payroll every two weeks. We dealt with banks that said no, regulators that changed the rules, and uncertainty that never shows up in Washington talking points. In Congress, my job is simple. Make government work for the people who actually create jobs, not just the corporations with lobbyists.

Access to capital that actually reaches small businesses

  • I will fight to expand and strengthen Community Development Financial Institutions so capital reaches entrepreneurs in underserved, rural, and working class communities.

  • I will protect and strengthen the State Small Business Credit Initiative so federal dollars turn into real loans and investments at the local level.

  • I will push the Small Business Administration to meet strict timelines so small business loan applications are not left sitting for months with no answers.

Fair banking and financial access

  • I will support the SAFE Banking Act so legal cannabis businesses can access banking, payroll, lending, and credit card processing without being forced to operate in cash.

  • No small business should be locked out of the financial system because Congress refuses to modernize an outdated law.

Lower costs for small businesses

  • I will support the Credit Card Competition Act to reduce excessive swipe fees that quietly drain billions from small businesses every year.

  • I will fight for competition and transparency so independent businesses are not forced to accept unfair terms dictated by the largest financial networks.

Cutting red tape without cutting protections

  • I will require small business impact reviews before new federal regulations are finalized.

  • I will push for clear, plain language guidance so compliance does not require hiring a lawyer.

  • I will work to simplify federal compliance so business owners can spend more time growing their businesses, not navigating bureaucracy.

Federal contracting that includes small businesses

  • I will fight to ensure small businesses can realistically compete for federal contracts.

  • I will push for simplified bidding processes so contracts are not written only for the largest corporations.

  • I will act as a watchdog and enforce accountability so large firms cannot misuse small business set asides.

Stability and Predictability

  • Small businesses need certainty to invest, hire, and grow.

  • I will fight policy whiplash and demand clear timelines and transparency when federal rules change.

Oversight and Accountability

  • I will use congressional oversight to hold agencies accountable when programs fail small businesses.

  • I will demand transparency on where small business dollars actually go by geography and community so Congress funds what works and fixes what does not.

Key bills and programs I will support and strengthen

  •  SAFE Banking Act

  • Credit Card Competition Act

  • Community Development Financial Institutions Fund

  • State Small Business Credit Initiative

Oversight Priorities

  • Hold the SBA accountable for loan delays and inequitable access.

  • Demand transparency on how federal small business dollars are distributed.

  • Investigate banking discrimination against legal industries and small entrepreneurs.