[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”22px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”CTA” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider color=”#397389″ divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_cta title=”Make Your Voice Heard on Capitol Hill” button_url=”https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/family-business-caucus\/” button_text=”Contact your members of Congress now and ask them to stand with family businesses by joining the Caucus.” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Call To Action Top” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”22px” background_color=”#397389″ custom_button=”on” button_bg_color=”#ff0019″ custom_margin=”-17px|||||” custom_padding=”16px||19px|||” global_module=”9695″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_cta][et_pb_divider color=”#397389″ divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ admin_label=”Author Byline” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.brownandstreza.com\/davidkeligian” link_option_url_new_window=”on” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Team-members-Pat-S.jpg” title_text=”Patricia M. Soldano” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Author” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
By Patricia M. Soldano<\/a> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IN4WzYU4Bmk” disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text admin_label=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is something to the old Woody Allen quote that says \u201c80% of success is showing up.\u201d<\/p>\n If you want something done In Washington, D.C., that number is likely closer to 100%.<\/p>\n A big part of showing up for family-owned businesses comes in the form of the Congressional Family Business Caucus, which is now back in order. After a strong March meeting, we are now set now for its second meeting on June 9 on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n House Members, Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), a Democrat from Southern California, and Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), a Republican representing Upstate New York constituents, are the new co-chairs of the bipartisan Caucus.<\/p>\n The March meeting focused on \u201cAffordability Strategies for Family-Owned Businesses,\u201d while the June meeting\u2019s theme is: \u201cFuel for Growth: Capital Solutions for Family Businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n One lesson we\u2019ve learned over the years advocating for family businesses is you simply must \u201cshow up.\u201d You need to be on The Hill and you must walk the halls of Congress to get your message heard.<\/p>\n But showing up is not so easy.<\/p>\n In the most recent Family Enterprise USA Annual Family-Owned Business Survey it was found a shocking 74% of family business leaders \u201chave not\u201d met their congress Member.<\/p>\n When we walk the halls of Congress with family businesses after our Caucus meetings, we find House Members and their staffers are more than willing to meet with us and are happy to listen to us. Many have no idea how powerful family businesses are in their districts, how many employees they have, or how they contribute substantially to their local community.<\/p>\n We\u2019re on The Hill daily and we\u2019re talking with House and Senate members, gauging their interests, explaining our family-owned business challenges. Many Congress Members are new, and their staff members are young. It\u2019s about constant education.<\/p>\n Just showing up, being the squeaky wheel, makes a huge difference.<\/p>\n Priorities change, but now they\u2019re changing so dramatically, and so fast, it\u2019s getting hard to track.<\/p>\n As the newest research findings are being tallied from the 2026 Annual Family-Owned Business Survey we\u2019re noticing some profound shifts.<\/p>\n Last year, the survey had the \u201cusual suspects\u201d of economic concerns: reduce the national debt (32%), reduce income taxes (23%), and reduce regulations (16%).<\/p>\n This year\u2019s survey, conducted among 710 respondents in the first quarter, wiped those concerns away.<\/p>\n Now, family business owners say their top economic policy priority is healthcare, with a whopping 51% saying this was their top concern. Last year, healthcare didn\u2019t rank at all.<\/p>\n The fear of new \u201cWealth Taxes\u201d ranked number two of economic concerns, with 22.5% saying this was their top worry. Last year, it only concerned 6% of family businesses.<\/p>\n The top worry last year, the National Debt, came in a lowly third place this year, with only 13% saying this concerned them. It\u2019s a big drop from 32% last year.<\/p>\n Today, it can be vastly more expensive to die than to make money on investments.<\/p>\n The federal estate tax \u2013 or death tax \u2013 has a top rate of 40% and is the highest rate in the U.S. tax code!<\/p>\n The estate tax is imposed on the fair market value of a decedent\u2019s estate (after the lifetime exclusion), not just the appreciation while the taxpayer owned the property.<\/p>\n Adding insult to injury, the federal estate tax applies a 40% rate on the full value of the taxable estate, while the capital gains rate tops out at 20%.<\/p>\n Family business owners should not be subject to a higher rate at death than they would have paid on the sale of the business while they were alive.<\/p>\n There is a bill in the House right now, The Estate Tax Rate Reduction Act (H.R. 601) that would lower the estate-tax rate to 20%, providing critical relief to family businesses across the nation.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a bipartisan issue too.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Death Tax is an unfair double tax that could force the next generation to sell their family business – on which they\u2019ve paid a lifetime of taxes – to pay another tax simply because of a family member\u2019s passing,\u201d says Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) about the bill. \u201cPenalizing Americans who work their entire lives, build successful businesses, and seek to pass down a better life to their children and grandchildren is the antithesis of the American Dream.\u201d<\/p>\n On the Democratic side of the aisle, Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) introduced the bipartisan Estate Tax Reduction Act.<\/p>\n As part of the bill\u2019s introduction, Rep. Bishop said: \u201cWhen Americans have rolled up their sleeves, worked hard their whole lives to provide for their children and take care of their loved ones, and built family small businesses that drive local economies and feed our nation, the tax code should be fair and not stand in the way of one generation leaving the next a better life.\u201d<\/p>\n An estate-tax rate of 20% encourages family-owned businesses to keep investing in their enterprises and expand, producing more jobs and revenue and preserving their ability to pass the business on to the next generation.<\/p>\n Taxing family-owned businesses at 40% does the opposite.<\/p>\n It forces owners to spend scarce capital on complex estate planning and costly insurance coverage to prevent the sale of all or parts of the business just to pay the estate tax.<\/p>\n This capital could be reinvested in the business, supporting critical jobs, and contributing to economic growth.<\/p>\n The Estate Tax Rate Reduction Act cuts the U.S. estate tax from 40 to 20%, reducing the tax burden on family-owned businesses and allowing business owners to invest more of their hard-earned money in expanding their operations and creating jobs.<\/p>\n It\u2019s time to make sure our lawmakers hear this message loud and clear and show up for family-owned businesses.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider divider_style=”dotted” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Become a member text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” link_option_url=”https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/donate-2\/” global_module=”5822″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As we prepare for what promises to be a pivotal year for America, we’re asking you to consider becoming a member.<\/p>\n The need for fact-based reporting of issues important to family owned businesses<\/a> and protecting a lifetime of savings<\/a> has never been greater. Now more than ever, successful families<\/a> and family owned businesses<\/a> are under fire. That’s why Family Enterprise USA<\/a> is passionately working to increase the awareness of issues important to family owned businesses<\/a> built on hard work, while continuing to strengthen our presence on Capitol Hill. The issues we fight for or against with Congress in Washington DC include high income tax rates<\/a>, possible elimination of valuation discounts, increase in capital gains tax<\/a>, enactment of a wealth tax<\/a>, and the continued burden of the gift tax<\/a>, estate tax<\/a> and generation skipping tax<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/donate\/” button_text=”Become a Family Enterprise USA Member” button_alignment=”center” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Become FEUSA member button” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” global_module=”6503″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_divider divider_style=”dotted” disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_video_slider disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Video Slider Family Business Stories 1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” disabled=”on” global_module=”5963″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3k9d1tFz5AU&t=22s” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kG0lDKbmJxg” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HFK8SG1VSco” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Z15BqbFOYck” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bsn5xYrxhJg” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PL3K3rK7ioA&t=5s” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CpXRbRBhPKc” _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][\/et_pb_video_slider][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”FEUSA Statement” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” link_option_url=”https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/donate-2\/” global_module=”5910″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Family Enterprise USA<\/a> promotes generationally<\/a> owned family business<\/a> creation, growth, viability, and sustainability by advocating for family businesses<\/a> and their lifetime of savings with Congress<\/a> in Washington DC.\u00a0 Since 2007, Family Enterprise USA<\/a> has represented and celebrated\u00a0all sizes, professions and industries of family-owned enterprises and multi-generational<\/a> employers. It is a bi-partisan 501.c3 organization.\u00a0Family foundations can donate.<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Hash tags & Tags” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_module=”6498″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n #incometax #CapitalGainsTax #R&DExpensing #DontPunishSuccess #GrantorTrusts #StepUpinBasis #likeKindExchanges #AcceleratedDepreciation #EstateTax #Deathtax #wealthtax #taxLegislation #CongressionalCaucus #incometaxrates #repealestatetax #AdvocatingForFamilyBusinesses #FamilyOwnedBusiness #WomenOwnedBusiness @FamilyEnterpriseUSA #FamilyEnterpriseUSA #FEUSA<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Patricia M. Soldano President Family Enterprise USA\u2018Being There\u2019 Key to Congress Knowing Family Business Messages; New Research Shows Shift in Priorities to Healthcare, Wealth Tax New Rate Reduction Bills Look to Balance Unfair Estate Taxes There is something to the old Woody Allen quote that says \u201c80% of success is showing up.\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17102,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[48,102,3,92,94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-businesses","category-family-business-caucus","category-feusa","category-multi-generational-business","category-pat-soldano"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17100"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17105,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17100\/revisions\/17105"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/strong>President<\/em>
\nFamily Enterprise USA<\/p>\n\u2018Being There\u2019 Key to Congress Knowing Family Business Messages; New Research Shows Shift in Priorities to Healthcare, Wealth Tax<\/strong><\/h2>\n
New Rate Reduction Bills Look to Balance Unfair Estate Taxes<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
Research Shows Priority Shift<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Rate Reduction Act: Dying Gets Expensive<\/strong><\/h4>\n
We hope you’ve enjoyed this article. While you’re here, we have a small favor to ask…<\/em><\/h4>\n
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