Whereas small business in the for-hire transportation industry is made up of over 18,300 locally owned and operated companies in the United States;

Whereas small business in the for-hire transportation industry employs 276,250 drivers and nearly a million other workers (mechanics, call center personnel, administrative staff, and management teams) in the United States;

Whereas small business in the for-hire transportation industry employs a workforce that is approximately 50 percent minority in the United States;

Whereas nonemergency medical transportation, taxicab, limousine, livery, paratransit, and shuttle small businesses transport over 2,000,000,000 people annually in the United States;

Whereas small businesses in the for-hire transportation industry continue to be critical to helping small businesses, families, hospital personnel, patients, COVID patients, shut-ins, and working families, those in food deserts, and others through the transitions needed during COVID–19 and the future variants;

Whereas small businesses in the for-hire transportation industry continue to be essential in providing public transportation to those in our communities who need it the most;

Whereas the Transportation Alliance is a critical nonprofit organization that provides small business entrepreneurs with the support to build their own successful businesses in their local community through education, training, and mentoring opportunities;

Whereas Congress should support riding local, as small businesses are the economic drivers in every community and a healthy for-hire transportation industry benefits the local economy, creates more jobs, and keeps investment in the community; and

Whereas small businesses in the for-hire transportation industry continue to be a critical resource to local, State, and Federal agencies, providing necessary transportation options for every citizen: Now, therefore, be it