Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Joni Ernst called on March 11 for the Senate to pass her bipartisan Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act, which aims to help small pet businesses grow by increasing loan limits for manufacturers.
The proposed legislation would double the Small Business Administration’s 7(a) and 504 loan limits from $5 million to $10 million for small manufacturers. Ernst said this change would benefit companies like Blue-9 Pet Products in Maquoketa, Iowa, allowing them to modernize operations and train new workers. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives.
“Today folks, we are talking about our beloved pets and the entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports the ever-growing pet industry,” Ernst said during her remarks. She highlighted that “pets have a very special place in our lives, in our families, and even here in the Senate.” According to Ernst, around 57% of American households own at least one pet, with higher rates in rural areas.
Ernst also pointed out that spending on pets reached an estimated $157 billion in 2025—a record high and a 75% increase since 2018. She said local veterinarians, trainers, and pet stores play key roles in supporting animals while investing in their employees and communities. However, she noted that these businesses face challenges such as accessing capital, navigating regulations, and recruiting qualified staff.
“We can start by passing my Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act,” Ernst said. She thanked colleagues Senators Coons, Young, Hickenlooper, and Husted for their bipartisan support. “This bill has already passed the House, and I will continue to work to pass it through our Senate chamber,” she added.
Ernst also referenced recent tax changes benefiting small business owners during tax season. “From pet groomers benefiting from the ‘no tax on tips’ provision to small business owners taking advantage of the qualified business income deduction, more of folks’ hard-earned money is staying in their own pockets,” she said.
According to the official website, Ernst’s office handles constituent services such as casework and facilitating interactions with federal agencies according to the official website. She leads the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship while also serving on other committees including Armed Services; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs according to the official website. Her representation extends across all of Iowa according to the official website, where her office offers assistance with casework and responses to public inquiries according to the official website.
Ernst operates within the federal legislative branch as a senator from Iowa according to the official website. Elected in 2014, she became both Iowa’s first female U.S. senator and the first female combat veteran elected to serve there according to the official website.
“The pet economy is just as wide and diverse as the small businesses who participate in it,” Ernst concluded during her remarks.
