WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the eve of Americans marking 249 years since declaring independence from a system that exploited and ignored them, Congress passed a bill that does exactly that.
The Senate moved first. The House followed. And now the reconciliation package—stuffed with corporate tax breaks and brutal cuts to essential care—has cleared both chambers.
Main Street Alliance and its network of over 30,000 small business owners call this what it is: a Reverse Fourth of July.
It trades the promise of freedom and fairness for dependence on monopolies and billionaire donors—while sticking working families with the bill.
This legislation, passed under the guise of fiscal responsibility, will have devastating consequences for the very communities elected officials claim to represent: the workers, caregivers, and small business owners who keep this economy running.
The bill’s impact on working families is clear:
17 million Americans will lose their health insurance;
2 million people—mostly children and seniors—will lose food assistance;
Young adults with low incomes will face staggering increases in health insurance premiums, with many priced out of coverage entirely;
Rural hospitals will close, leaving entire communities without access to care;
Hundreds of billions in tax cuts will go to the wealthiest Americans and largest corporations—further rigging the economy against Main Street
“There’s nothing patriotic about gutting the care infrastructure that keeps our communities running,” said Corrine Hendrickson, 1,000 Main Streets Leader and Early Childhood Educator. “You can’t grow a business when hospitals are closing, child care is out of reach, and families are one illness away from crisis. This bill doesn’t invest in America—it tears at the fabric of Main Street.”
A Generational Wealth Grab
Rather than reducing the deficit or investing in next-generation infrastructure—like child care, affordable housing, or public health—Congress chose to fund permanent tax breaks for high-net-worth older Americans by stripping resources from younger working families.
This is a massive transfer of wealth across both class and generational lines. It forces Millennials, Gen Z, and lower-income entrepreneurs to shoulder higher costs and worse care while asking nothing of the corporations and individuals most able to contribute.
“If you’re a young business owner already stretched thin by housing costs, child care bills, and health premiums—this bill just made your future harder,” said Richard Trent, Executive Director of Main Street Alliance.
Main Street Alliance Responds
Main Street Alliance—representing over 30,000 small business owners nationwide—has been raising the alarm for months. Through its 1,000 Main Streets (1KMS) campaign, MSA has mobilized leaders in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Virginia, Minnesota, Michigan, and Iowa to oppose this legislation and fight for economic justice.
MSA members have published op-eds, spoken out in the media, and met directly with elected officials. Now, they are taking the next step.
Small business owners will host listening sessions and roundtables with elected officials in all six states to unpack what this bill means for working families, care providers, and local economies.
“The same lawmakers who pose for Main Street photo ops just voted to rig the rules for monopolies and mega-donors,” said Trent. “This isn’t about balancing budgets—it’s about prioritizing the powerful and leaving the rest of us behind. We’re not backing down.”
