Little Apple Times

Today in Washington, D.C., U.S. Representative Tracey Mann reintroduced the FAITH in Small Business Act on National Religious Freedom Day. The legislation aims to protect the First Amendment rights of small business owners by ensuring faith-based businesses have equal access to loans and programs from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), as mandated by the U.S. Constitution.

Representative Mann emphasized the importance of religious freedom for entrepreneurs, stating, "The very first amendment the Founding Fathers made to the Constitution protected the right of every American to have a faith, live that faith, and change their faith as they please." He continued, "Small business owners should not be forced to choose between expressing their faith in their entrepreneurial efforts or receiving assistance from SBA. It is un-American, unconstitutional, and contrary to our DNA as Americans to limit access to federal resources because of religious beliefs."

The act focuses on supporting businesses engaged in teaching or counseling religion. Previously, federal regulations excluded these organizations from several SBA loan and disaster assistance programs. In 2021, a rule proposed by the Trump Administration's SBA aimed to remove such restrictions under an executive order promoting free speech and religious liberty. Rep. Mann's bill seeks to solidify this proposal into law.