The MRAA Government Relations Team joined the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC) for its fourth annual D.C. fly-in at the end of April 2026. While previous fly-ins focused heavily on tax reconciliation legislation, specifically the small business provisions extended and expanded in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBB), this year’s fly-in added workforce policy to the agenda, expanding beyond the SBLC’s traditional tax and tariff priorities.
Key Policy Priorities: Tax Stability and Workforce Development
Meetings with the Department of Labor and Congress focused on both how the administration is working to improve apprenticeship programs to benefit workforces in need and how Congress can bolster those efforts. MRAA Government Relations Director Mike Sayre and Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager, discussed pressing issues impacting the organization and its members, highlighting the positive impacts of the tax provisions passed in the Big Beautiful Bill Act, which the Coalition advocated for in 2025. The SBLC emphasized the positive impact of these tax policies, as they provided stability and parity for small businesses, ensuring they remain competitive in an evolving economic landscape.
“The Small Business Legislative Council has been an incredible resource for MRAA and our members and this year we were able to build on our previous successes and relationships,” said Sayre. “The expertise and support from SBLC on complex tax and workforce-related policy issues means MRAA members are having their concerns heard at the highest levels of government.”
The MRAA joined the SBLC in 2024 to increase its focus on issues impacting small businesses like taxes and regulatory requirements. The MRAA previously participated in the SBLC fly-in in 2025 and the 2026 fly-in serves as an additional opportunity to build and maintain important relationships on Capitol Hill, the administration, as well as the Department of Labor.
“In 2025 we spent time on Capitol Hill with the SBLC to highlight the important benefits of the tax provisions included in the Big Beautiful Bill Act, advocating for their support and inclusion, which ultimately passed and became law in July of 2025,” said Tokowicz. “This time around, we got to share with Hill staff and administration officials how these tax provisions are benefitting MRAA members, thanking them for their support and maintaining important relationships that keep marine retailers at the table.”
The 2026 fly-in of the SBLC to Washington furthered these priorities by connecting with congressional offices and committee staff who have jurisdiction over the priority areas. Here is a brief recap of the meetings:
White House Office of Political Affairs
SBLC Members met with Matt Brasseaux, Director for the White House Office of Political Affairs (OPA) and other members of the OPA. This office gathers intelligence, manages constituent relationships and advances the President’s policy agenda; serving as the political “eyes and ears” of the administration. The OPA team provided the SBLC with a detailed briefing on how the administration views the current political landscape, which congressional districts and Members of Congress will matter most in 2026 and where the President plans to focus his mid-term travel. The discussion gave SBLC members valuable insight into which districts and policy topics will drive priorities for the remainder of 2026.
Meeting with U.S. Department of Labor
SBLC members met with Jonathan Fischer, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Education and Training at the Department of Labor (DOL) and Candee J. Chambers, DOL Director of Public Liaison to discuss federal workforce policy under the Trump administration. Policy has been centered on two areas: artificial intelligence and registered apprenticeship programs. AI innovation policies often overlook small businesses, which struggle to participate in or benefit from these initiatives. The Administration is also pushing for expanded registered apprenticeship programs, but small businesses frequently lack the capacity to create or manage them. The SBLC engaged the department to advocate for small business visibility within its workforce blueprint. The Employment & Training Administration (ETA) was receptive and offered to continue meetings and information sharing on the Department’s priorities.
House of Representatives Meetings
For congressional meetings, the SBLC focused on Members sitting on key committees of jurisdiction for tax and tariff policy (i.e., House Ways & Means and Senate Finance) who also demonstrated meaningful interest in workforce policy.
Rep. Mike Carey’s Office (R-OH)
Rep. Carey was selected because of the SBLC’s prior direct relationship with the Congressman, his seat on the House Ways & Means Committee and his demonstrated interest in workforce issues; notably as a co-sponsor of the LEAP Act (with Rep. Budzinski), which would provide a $1,500 federal tax credit for hiring new DOL-registered apprentices. Discussions focused on the potential for other industry-recognized apprenticeship programs to receive similar tax credits and the possibility of further expanding Section 199A in the upcoming reconciliation package.
Rep. Brendan Boyle’s Office (D-PA)
Rep. Boyle was selected because of the SBLC’s prior relationship, his seat on the House Ways & Means Committee and his potential path to becoming Budget Chairman. Rep. Boyle has publicly discussed revisiting tax and healthcare provisions within the One Big Beautiful Bill if Democrats regain control of the House, making it essential that the SBLC maintain active dialogue on the small business tax provisions it has championed over the past three years.
Rep. Lloyd Smucker’s Office (R-PA)
Rep. Smucker was selected for his seat on the House Ways & Means Committee, his strong support for expanding 199A benefits beyond current OBBB levels and his leadership on alternative workforce solutions. He is the lead author of the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (H.R. 5494), which would create a new H-2C nonimmigrant visa for essential industries with positions unfilled for three or more consecutive months in areas with unemployment above 7.9%. His openness to bipartisan approaches to labor shortages could be especially significant if House composition shifts in January 2027.
Senate Side Meeting with Senator Todd Young (R-IN)
Senator Young’s office was selected because of his seat on the Senate Finance Committee and the SBLC’s desire to provide feedback on his proposed apprenticeship legislation. The SBLC had advance notice that the Senator planned to introduce the legislation the week following the fly-in. Many SBLC members had an opportunity to comment in advance. The meeting allowed the SBLC to candidly advocate for approaches beyond those proposed and the Senator expressed genuine openness to trade association perspectives that may benefit the broader coalition.
Building Stronger Relations on Capitol Hill
Since engaging Barnes & Thornburg LLP as government relations counsel in September 2023, the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC) has prioritized strengthening its relationships on Capitol Hill to help build better relationships and ensure that important tax policy for small businesses is passed. This is SBLC’s Fourth “fly-in” to Washington, D.C. in the past 36 months, with a focus on advancing its core advocacy initiatives, particularly advocating for more favorable tax and workforce policy for small businesses throughout the United States.
