My name is Melissa Rayner, and I am a small business owner whose family has been serving our community for generations. Our business has been family-owned and operated since 1949, and we have proudly remained at the same location since 1956. Fortunately, because of that, we bought our property back in the day when land was affordable. For that reason, we don’t have a monthly rent or mortgage to contend with like other businesses. That leaves us in the enviable position to be able to meet our expenses. With that said, this is not just a business... it is our legacy, our livelihood, and a part of our community’s history. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, just like thousands of other small business owners, we were forced to turn to the EIDL loan program to survive. We used those funds responsibly—to keep employees paid, our doors open, and our business alive during an unprecedented crisis. Today, that lifeline has become a burden to us that is threatening everything we’ve built over the past 77 years. Which begs the question: how must that burden be affecting other small businesses who are forced to pay those additional expenses? Each month, the weight of the EIDL debt makes it harder to move forward. We are doing everything in our power to remain open, to continue serving our customers, and to protect the jobs that depend on us, but the strain is overwhelming. If we are struggling, what must our fellow small business owners be experiencing? Across the country, small businesses are struggling under the weight of EIDL repayment. Reports suggest that more than 40% of borrowers are facing serious hardship or failure. We are not failing because we didn’t work hard, we are being overwhelmed by debt from a crisis we did not create. We are asking Congress to take immediate action: Hold congressional hearings to investigate the true impact and failure rate of the EIDL program.
Reduce EIDL interest rates to 0% and/or provide meaningful loan forgiveness. 
End excessive Treasury collection fees—reportedly up to 30%—that are pushing businesses closer to closure. 
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. We create jobs, support families, and strengthen our communities. Businesses like mine have spent decades, generations, building something meaningful. Without relief, many of us will not survive. We stepped up during the crisis. Now we are asking our leaders to step up for us. Please sign this petition to demand action and help save small businesses before it’s too late. Sincerely, Melissa Rayner
Small Business Owner