U.S. Representative Pete Stauber said on May 5 that “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy.” The statement was issued during National Small Business Week and comes as lawmakers discuss economic policy impacts for Main Street firms in Greater Minnesota, according to a social media post from Stauber’s official congressional account as reported directly from the May 4, 2026 update.
The topic is significant because small businesses make up 99.5 percent of all businesses in Minnesota and employ 1.3 million people, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2025 state profile. The SBA said small businesses account for 45.8 percent of employment in the state.
Stauber also said, “I am proud to have helped pass the Working Families Tax Cuts to ensure our local entrepreneurs have the tools they need to thrive. By delivering permanent tax relief and simplifying the code, we are helping our small businesses grow, hire, and invest back into our community.” The U.S. Small Business Administration said the Working Families Tax Cuts reduce taxes for more than 12 million small business owners by about $7,000 on average. The SBA said the permanent extension of the 20 percent Small Business Deduction provides about $4,600 in average tax relief to 8 million entrepreneurs.
Stauber has represented Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District since 2019, according to his congressional biography. Before Congress, he served as a police officer in the Duluth area, a Hermantown city councilor and a St. Louis County commissioner.
Pete Stauber is currently serving in the U.S. Congress representing Minnesota’s 8th district after replacing Rick Nolan in 2019.
