Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (DE-SOWN-YAY) proudly represents California’s 11th Congressional District, which includes the majority of Contra Costa County. For more than 30 years in public service and as a small business owner, Mark has been a leader for working families. During his time in U.S. House, most of which Republicans were in charge, Mark passed more than 60 legislative efforts. He is an effective legislator who knows how to get things done.
Mark is one of only a few Members of Congress to serve on four committees. He currently sits on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Education and Labor, where he serves as Chairman of Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and the Committee on Oversight and Reform. He also is a Member of the House Committee on Rules, where he has the opportunity to weigh in on major pieces of legislation before they are brought to the House Floor and where he was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Vice Chair of the Committee. Mark is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
As a former small business owner, Congressman DeSaulnier understands the vital role small businesses play in strengthening the American economy. Small businesses are the engine of job creation in America, accounting for approximately 55% of all jobs in the United States. Last year alone, the marketplace saw the fastest increase in the formation of new businesses that it has seen over the last 17 years. Mark recognizes that an investment in our country’s small businesses is an investment in the future growth and success of our nation. It is for this reason that Mark is committed to working on behalf of small businesses in Congress, by fighting for greater access to capital and ensuring that entrepreneurs have the tools that will help their businesses thrive.
Working For You
Congressman DeSaulnier understands that access to capital is essential for small business to remain competitive, increase hiring capabilities, and stay afloat. Mark is a cosponsor of the Credit Union Small Business Jobs Creation Act (H.R. 1188), which would increase the lending cap imposed on America’s credit unions allowing for approximately $13 billion of capital to flow to small businesses. If enacted this legislation would strengthen the American economy by creating roughly 140,000 new jobs.
Mark has seen firsthand that investing in the future of our workforce by providing resources our young people can use excites interest in business and spurs innovation. Congressman DeSaulnier supported the Start-up America’s Students Act (H.R. 3990), which would create a grant program to fund facilities on college campuses that provide guidance, resources, and assistance in creating and growing student-owned businesses.
Small Business and the Affordable Care Act
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Small Businesses with up to 50 full-time employees are not required to provide health insurance coverage to their employees. However, the Affordable Care Act offers tax credits for qualifying small businesses that would like to offer health insurance for their employees. You can learn more about these tax credits and Covered California for Small Businesses here.
While the ACA greatly improved our outdated health care system, too many businesses remain ineligible for the credit or are discouraged by the complexity of its requirements to take advantage of this benefit. To help small businesses compete and grow, Congressman DeSaulnier supports the Small Business Tax Credit Accessibility Act (H.R. 762) to expand and simplify the small business tax credits under the ACA. This will allow more small businesses that would like to provide health insurance to qualify for the credit and provide affordable, quality health insurance to their workers.