Editorials / Opinions

As we observe Memorial Day, Americans across the country come together to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Their courage and devotion secured the freedom we enjoy today and preserved the promise of opportunity that defines the American experience.

This year’s Memorial Day carries special significance as our nation prepares to commemorate America250, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Over the next year, communities throughout the country will reflect on two and a half centuries of freedom, innovation, and resilience. It is an opportunity not only to celebrate our nation’s history, but also to recognize the individuals whose sacrifices have protected the ideals of liberty and self-determination since our country’s founding.

One of the most enduring expressions of freedom is the ability to pursue the American Dream through entrepreneurship. Every day, small business owners take risks, create jobs, solve problems, and strengthen local communities. Their efforts fuel economic growth and embody the spirit of independence that has been at the heart of our nation for 250 years.

The US Small Business Administration is committed to helping these entrepreneurs succeed. Through counseling, training, access to capital, government contracting assistance, and technical support, the SBA helps small businesses start, grow, expand, and recover. This mission is especially important as we continue to foster economic opportunities in communities of every size.

This year, the SBA is proud to highlight two initiatives that support entrepreneurship and economic growth.

First, the US Small Business Administration has launched the Patriot Pitch Competition, a national contest created to celebrate 250 years of American free enterprise and the small businesses that power our economy.

Backed by a $1 million cash prize pool donated by Clover Network, Inc., this competition is open to eligible small businesses that have used qualifying SBA capital products and are helping drive innovation, job creation, and economic growth across the country.

The Patriot Pitch is more than a contest; it is a national stage for the entrepreneurs whose ideas keep our country competitive and resilient. Entries will be judged on how they strengthen American competitiveness, deliver quality jobs, and demonstrate strong execution and financial fundamentals, precisely the traits we should celebrate as we mark 250 years of American enterprise.

Small business owners interested in this opportunity must apply by June 10, with winners selected at a live finals event in Washington, DC this September.

It is a fitting setting: in the nation’s capital, just miles from the memorials that bear the names of our fallen, entrepreneurs will step forward to show how they are building the next chapter of American strength and prosperity.

The second is the SBA’s Empower to Grow Program, an initiative designed to connect entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to scale their businesses and pursue new opportunities. Through targeted training, educational programming, and connections to SBA resource partners, Empower to Grow helps small business owners strengthen operations, access capital, develop growth strategies, and position their businesses for long-term success. By meeting entrepreneurs where they are and providing practical support, the program reinforces the SBA’s commitment to helping small businesses thrive in today’s economy.

As we honor Memorial Day, we are reminded that freedom creates opportunity, and opportunity creates possibility. The same spirit of determination that has guided generations of Americans, from those who defended our nation to those who build businesses and create jobs, continues to drive our country’s success.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, let us remember the sacrifices that made our freedoms possible while looking ahead to the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Their contributions will help shape the future of our economy and ensure that the promise of opportunity remains strong for generations to come.

On behalf of the US Small Business Administration Mid-Atlantic Region, I wish you a meaningful Memorial Day. May we honor the fallen, celebrate the freedoms they protected, and continue working together to build a stronger, more prosperous America.

Sincerely,

Jim Spencer, Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator, US Small Business Administration

Another Mother’s Day has come and gone, and once again too many Pennsylvania families marked it with gratitude for the mothers in their lives, and frustration at what our state still fails to provide.

As the sponsors of the Pennsylvania Family Care Act, we introduced this legislation because we have seen firsthand what it means when a family life collides with a paycheck. In our districts, we hear from workers who are doing everything “right” and still facing impossible choices when illness, childbirth, or caregiving needs arise. These are families trying to hold it all together, often without the support they need when life doesn’t go as planned.

The Family Care Act would establish a statewide paid family and medical leave program that allows workers to take paid time away from their jobs to care for a newborn or newly adopted child, recover from a serious illness, support a family member with a medical condition, or respond to other caregiving responsibilities. It is a commonsense solution designed to reflect how families actually live and work today, not how workplace policy assumed they would decades ago.

While the Family Care Act recently advanced out of the House, there is still work to do to make a comprehensive statewide paid family and medical leave program a reality for Pennsylvanians. Too many workers here are left with no paid leave at all, or are forced to rely on unpaid time off they simply cannot afford. That gap shows up in real ways: delayed medical care, parents returning to work before they are ready, and families pushed into financial insecurity during moments that are already overwhelming.

Other states are moving forward. Virginia, for example, is moving ahead with implementing paid family and medical leave, recognizing a basic truth families already know well: Caregiving is essential, and income should not disappear when life becomes complicated or crisis strikes.

We often say we value families in Pennsylvania, but Pennsylvania is now one of the last states in the region without a statewide paid family and medical leave program. Advancing the Family Care Act would demonstrate a commitment to prioritizing Pennsylvania’s families and recognizing caregiving as essential to the health and stability of our communities.

At its core, moving this policy forward is about shared values like supporting families during life’s most demanding moments and recognizing that when caregivers can care without financial fear, everyone benefits. When families are stable, workers can stay engaged, kids are healthier, and communities are stronger.

Too often, paid leave is framed narrowly as a policy for new parents. That framing misses the reality families are living every day. It is the worker who suddenly becomes a caregiver for an aging parent after a fall. It is the patient undergoing cancer treatment who needs time to recover without risking their job. It is the parent supporting a child with a disability, or the family member caring for a loved one at the end of their life. These are not rare or hypothetical situations. They are part of life for countless families across our state.

These moments do not come with advance notice or financial preparation. They arrive suddenly, and when they do, families are forced into a choice between caring for the people they love and maintaining the income they rely on to get by.

The Family Care Act is designed to remove that impossible choice by creating a statewide program that allows workers to take paid leave when they need it most. It supports workers, strengthens families, and helps employers retain experienced employees instead of losing them during moments of crisis. States that have implemented similar programs report benefits ranging from stronger workforce participation to improved health outcomes and greater economic stability.

On Mother’s Day, we honor the strength, labor, and love of mothers across our state. But honoring them cannot stop at words. It must show up in concrete action that makes caregiving possible without financial devastation.

We cannot let another Mother’s Day pass in Pennsylvania while families are still waiting for paid leave. Now is the time to pass the Family Care Act.

Sincerely,

State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara (D-165), State Sen. Maria Collett (D-12)

NOTE: State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara represents the 165th District in Delaware County; State Sen. Maria Collett represents the 12th District in Montgomery County.