NEWS | Congress Returns as Health Costs, Government Funding, and NDAA Deadlines Loom — What Small Businesses Should Know

As lawmakers return to Washington for the final stretch of the year, Congress faces an exceptionally crowded agenda with major implications for small businesses, especially around health care affordability, federal funding stability, and defense policy.

DEC. 01 | This week, Congress is back in session, with a busy schedule building ahead of the Christmas holiday. At the top of the list is how to tackle the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which millions of Americans have come to rely on at current levels on to keep their health insurance premiums affordable.

Without congressional action, premiums are expected to continue to spike, which is an outcome poised to hit small-business owners twice: once as employers who struggle to afford plans for themselves and their workers, and again as community leaders in markets with limited coverage options.

While Democrats are pressing for an extension and Republicans are weighing the political and fiscal implications, there is no clear path forward, and the clock is ticking.

Meanwhile, hot off the heels of a record-breaking shutdown, Congress must also return its attention back to government funding, with agencies set to run out of money yet again on January 30. Senators are currently working to advance a five-bill minibus spending package covering Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Interior-Environment programs, which is legislation that sets spending levels for many federal agencies that interact directly with small businesses.

House appropriators, however, have signaled preference for a smaller spending package to avoid a repeat crisis before the holidays.

For small-business owners, another shutdown, or even prolonged uncertainty surrounding the next spending move from Congress, means delayed loans, paused federal contracting, stalled grants, and ripple effects across the broader economy. NSBA has consistently advocated for long-term, predictable fiscal policy that allows entrepreneurs to plan, hire, and grow without fear of political brinkmanship because, no matter the reason, bottom line every time: shutdowns harm small business.

Finally, lawmakers must pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) before year’s end. While traditionally bipartisan, this year’s NDAA bill could become a vehicle for last-minute priorities. Because the NDAA governs key small-business contracting programs within the Department of Defense, any additions could either strengthen or complicate opportunities for entrepreneurs in the defense industrial base.

Across these issues, small businesses are navigating uncertainty on everything from health costs, compliance, federal operations, and on access to key programs. NSBA will continue monitoring negotiations closely and advocating for policies providing clarity, stability, and affordability for America’s small-business community.

For ongoing updates and insights tailored to small-business owners, visit NSBAadvocate.org.