Imagine a family-owned restaurant struggling to keep its doors open while paying for compliance with new health and safety rules. The owner has already cut hours for employees but still fears she may have to lay off staff or even close shop if costs continue to rise.

The Biden administration recently introduced sweeping regulations aimed at ensuring workplace safety, environmental sustainability, and fair labor practices. While these goals are commendable in principle, the impact on small businesses is alarming. According to a recent survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), over 80% of small business owners report that compliance costs are stifling their growth.

These regulations were supposed to protect workers and the environment while promoting fair competition. However, in practice, they are putting undue pressure on already struggling small enterprises which provide a majority of new jobs in our economy each year.

Think about it like your household budget: if suddenly you had to pay for a new expense every month that made up 10% of what you earn, how would you cope? That's exactly the situation many small business owners find themselves in now with these additional regulatory burdens.

The long-term consequences could be devastating. Not only will businesses struggle, but so too will families who rely on those jobs for income and stability. If we allow regulations to strangle entrepreneurship and job creation at this critical juncture of economic recovery, what kind of future are we setting up for our children?

I stayed up last night thinking about the hardworking mom-and-pop shops I used to teach reading skills to their kids before school began. They're not asking for special treatment, just a fair chance to keep operating without being crushed under an avalanche of red tape.

It's time we start listening more closely to the voices of those on the front lines of economic struggles and demand accountability from policymakers who aren't seeing this crisis clearly.