WASHINGTON, D.C. – More Americans looking to re-enter the workforce will have the opportunity and support to invest in their own entrepreneurial spirit thanks to legislation recently approved by the Ways and Means Committee. The New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency (NO BOSS) Act (H.R. 6431) – introduced by Representative Mike Carey (OH-15) – improves the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program, which offers qualifying unemployment insurance (UI) claimants the option to create their own jobs by starting a small business. The bill increases the participation cap from five to 10 percent and expands eligibility to all UI claimants, not just those determined most likely to exhaust their benefits.

The Committee is also looking out for those Americans filing taxes using paper returns, so they get the tax refunds they are owed sooner and more efficiently. The Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance (BARCODE) Efficiency Act (H.R. 6956) – bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Rudy Yakym (IN-02) and Brad Schneider (IL-10) and approved by the Ways and Means Committee – allows tax returns prepared electronically, but filed on paper, to include a barcode that the IRS can use to scan and speed up the processing of returns to deliver quicker refunds to taxpayers.

Organizations and entities supporting American innovation and entrepreneurship as well as the interests of taxpayers are expressing their strong support for these policies.

NO BOSS Act (H.R. 6431)

Small Business Entrepreneurship Council (SBEC)

“The NO BOSS Act is a win-win-win for local economies, the broader U.S. economy, and for individuals who want more flexibility and choice in pursuing their next career path.” – Karen Kerrigan, President and CEO, SBEC

Shopify

“At Shopify, we see the opportunity entrepreneurship brings to so many American families, and our job is to help tear down barriers that keep would-be business owners from getting started. That’s why we strongly support H.R. 6431, the New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency (NO BOSS) Act.” – Alexandra Clark, Vice President of Public Affairs, Shopify

Foundation for American Innovation (FAI)

“From the emergence of Silicon Valley to the rapidly evolving tech industry of today, many of America’s most important, innovative, and disruptive companies have started with one person, a laptop, and an idea. Self-employment and entrepreneurship have always been integral to the American Dream. But today, outdated restrictions on the availability of self-employment programs and funds is hampering the ability of many would-be entrepreneurs and startups to get going. The NO BOSS Act would make significant changes to federal rules that will help unleash Americans’ entrepreneurial spirit and allow more people to leverage the innovations of today to create prosperity for themselves and their families tomorrow. Passing the NO BOSS Act would be a win not only for would-be entrepreneurs but also for the American economy as a whole.” – Joshua Levine, Director, Technology and Telecommunications Policy, FAI

BARCODE Efficiency Act (H.R. 6956)

National Taxpayers Union (NTU)

“NTU applauds the Committee for your efforts to advance proposals that improve services, as well as lowering administrative costs, for taxpayers.” – NTU

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

“The Chamber is pleased to support H.R. 6956, the BARCODE Efficiency Act, which would implement a pair of commonsense, long-sought reforms to the IRS’s protocols for processing paper-filed returns. Even in today’s modern world, nearly one-fifth of business taxpayers still file their returns on paper, which can be burdensome and inefficient for the IRS to process under its existing manual protocols. By requiring the use of two leading, widely available technologies, the bill would enable the IRS to more efficiently and accurately process paper returns, saving taxpayers’ time and government resources. It’s a no brainer.” – Watson M. McLeish, Senior Vice President, Tax Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)

“As the 2026 tax filing season approaches, millions of Americans, especially those who file on paper, will confront an IRS plagued by immense backlog, slow processing, and refund delays. The Barcode Automation for Revenue Collection to Organize Disbursement and Enhance (BARCODE) Efficiency Act (H.R. 6956) offers relief to a serious problem taxpayers have endured for far too long.” – ATR