The Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC) has announced its top priorities for 2017—health care, tax reform and infrastructure. These priorities were determined by the SBLC’s Board of Directors.

Basing its decision on the new administration and the potential for significant changes to the health care and tax laws, the SBLC reports that its efforts will focus on advocating for reforms that provide simplification and certainty for small businesses and remove burdens that negatively impact small businesses and their employees. It will also work in support of infrastructure growth and investment to further jump-start the economy and protect the basic resources that small businesses rely on.

“Ensuring that the small-business perspective is heard and accounted for will be more critical than ever this year,” says SBLC Chair John Grau of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). “Small and closely held businesses have long been a key driver of growth and job creation. However, all too often, efforts at reform place a disproportionate burden on small business, particularly when it comes to taxes. The SBLC looks forward to working with lawmakers on creative and common sense solutions that protect this critical part of the American economy.”

The SBLC is an independent, permanent coalition of more than 40 diverse national trade and professional associations whose goal is to maximize the advocacy and presence of small business on Federal legislative and regulatory policy issues, and to disseminate information on the impact of public policy on small businesses. PPAI is a member of the SBLC, and Association President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE, serves on its board of directors.