[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4149-H4151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MAIN STREET COMPETES ACT
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 8882) to amend the Small Business Economic Policy
Act of 1980 to examine how the competitiveness of small businesses is
affected by the enforcement of Federal antitrust laws, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8882
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Main Street Competes Act''.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL DECLARATION OF SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC
POLICY.
Section 302(a) of the Small Business Economic Policy Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 631a(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and provide'' and inserting ``provide'';
and
(2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and
promote competitive markets, consumer choice, and business
ownership through enforcement of Federal antitrust laws in
the case of anticompetitive conduct and illegal mergers that
harms small businesses and the growth of small businesses.''.
SEC. 3. STATE OF SMALL BUSINESSES.
(a) In General.--Section 303 of the Small Business Economic
Policy Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 631b) is amended to read as
follows:
``SEC. 303. REPORT ON THE STATE OF SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.
``(a) Specified Entity Report.--Not later than 180 days
after the end of the fiscal year in which the Main Street
Competes Act is enacted, and every two fiscal years
thereafter, the head of each specified entity shall submit to
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Office of Advocacy of
the Small Business Administration a report including--
``(1) an analysis of how enforcement by the specified
entity of Federal antitrust laws promoted competition during
the preceding fiscal year by deterring and remedying
anticompetitive conduct, including illegal mergers, that
harms small businesses and the growth of small businesses;
``(2) the number of complaints of alleged antitrust
violations filed by self-identified small businesses with the
specified entity during such fiscal year, disaggregated by
type of offense and the specific Federal antitrust laws
allegedly violated;
``(3) the number of inquiries, investigations, and
enforcement actions undertaken by the specified entity in
response to complaints filed by small businesses with the
specified entity during such fiscal year; and
``(4) the number of inquiries, investigations, and
enforcement actions undertaken by the specified entity during
such fiscal year pursuant to an alleged antitrust violation,
opened for a reason other than a complaint filed by a small
business as described in paragraph (3), to deter and remedy
anticompetitive conduct that harms small businesses and the
growth of small businesses.
``(b) Office of Advocacy Report.--Not later than 180 days
after receipt of the report required by subsection (a), the
Chief Counsel for Advocacy shall submit to the Committee on
Small Business of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of Senate a
report that includes--
``(1) a summary of the report submitted under subsection
(a);
``(2) an analysis of the data in such report, disaggregated
by industry category;
``(3) an evaluation of the issues identified in such report
relating to--
``(A) anticompetitive conduct, including illegal mergers,
that harmed small businesses and the growth of small
businesses; and
``(B) administrative actions that promoted competition and
growth of small businesses;
``(4) as appropriate, recommendations for administrative
actions that could--
``(A) promote competition;
``(B) deter anticompetitive conduct, including illegal
mergers, that harmed small business and the growth of small
businesses; and
``(C) remedy such anticompetitive conduct; and
``(5) as appropriate, recommendations for legislative
actions that could--
``(A) promote competition;
``(B) deter anticompetitive conduct, including illegal
mergers, that harmed small business and the growth of small
businesses; and
``(C) remedy such anticompetitive conduct.''.
(b) Definitions.--The Small Business Economic Policy Act of
1980 (Public Law 96-302; 94 Stat. 848; 15 U.S.C. 631a et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 304. DEFINITIONS.
``In this title:
``(1) Antitrust violation.--The term `antitrust violation'
means any violation of Federal antitrust laws.
``(2) Federal antitrust laws.--The term `Federal antitrust
laws' has the meaning given the term `antitrust laws' in
subsection (a) of the first section of the Clayton Act (15
U.S.C. 12(a)), except that such term shall also include
section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45)
to the extent that such section 5 applies to unfair methods
of competition.
``(3) Small business.--The term `small business' has the
meaning given the term
[[Page H4150]]
`small business concern' under section 3 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
``(4) Specified entity.--The term `specified entity'
means--
``(A) the Department of Justice; and
``(B) the Federal Trade Commission.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Williams) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Olszewski)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8882, the Main
Street Competes Act, introduced by my good friend Representative
Scholten from the great State of Michigan and Representative Schmidt
from the great State of Kansas.
Competition is fundamental in the free market and especially in this
economy. Without robust competition, businesses have little incentive
to innovate, weakening the U.S. economy. If competition is weak,
innovation and the U.S. economy suffer.
H.R. 8882, the Main Street Competes Act, reinforces the SBA's mission
to preserve free and fair competition and strengthen the American
economy. This bill requires the Department of Justice and the Federal
Trade Commission to share data with SBA Office of Advocacy regarding
antitrust complaints, investigations, and enforcement actions involving
small businesses.
The bill further directs the Office of Advocacy to analyze these
trends and provide recommendations to Congress on how to improve
competition and address harmful anticompetitive conduct impacting small
businesses.
This is a targeted, data-driven approach to better understand
competitive pressures in the marketplace and to assess whether existing
antitrust enforcement is effectively protecting small businesses.
Importantly, this legislation does not create new regulatory burdens
or expand Federal authority. By improving transparency and
strengthening oversight, this bill ensures policymakers have the
information needed to support a competitive marketplace here where Main
Street businesses can grow, compete, and succeed.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 8882, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, Main Street America is a critical part of our economy
and its success hinges on a competitive marketplace.
Unfortunately, the competitive landscape that small firms rely on has
been eroded for decades as large companies have absorbed significant
market share across many industries. Seventy-five percent of industries
have seen increasing concentrations since the mid-1990s, and today, the
average firm is roughly three times larger than it was 20 years ago.
That is why we have Federal antitrust laws to prevent monopolies and
corporate collusion and to protect small businesses' ability to
compete. However, in recent decades, their enforcement has been
limited, contributing to the continued consolidation in our economy.
Luckily, small businesses have a voice in the Federal Government: the
SBA's independent Office of Advocacy. Its primary function by law
includes ``recommending specific measures for creating an environment
in which all businesses will have the opportunity to compete
effectively and expand to their full potential.''
Advocacy is uniquely situated to work with antitrust enforcement
entities like the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department.
That is why the Main Street Competes Act was introduced. It directs
Advocacy to assess the FTC and DOJ's antitrust work and produce an
annual report on the competitive landscape for small businesses.
Mr. Speaker, I thank and commend my colleagues Ms. Scholten, Mr.
Schmidt, Ranking Member Velazquez, and Chairman Williams for working on
this bill and making sure that we take action on market consolidation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Schmidt), my good friend.
Mr. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing this bill
forward and for his leadership. I also thank my colleague from Michigan
(Ms. Scholten). It has been a pleasure to work with her on this
bipartisan, commonsense piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I add my voice to those advocating in support of the
Main Street Competes Act. Our bill addresses the concerns that small
businesses have limited visibility into how Federal antitrust
enforcement efforts may affect their ability to compete.
While large mergers and anticompetitive practices can disadvantage
small firms, there is currently no consistent governmentwide assessment
of how enforcement actions by the Department of Justice and the Federal
Trade Commission may affect small business competitiveness or how such
agencies respond to small business complaints.
{time} 1550
To address this gap, the Main Street Competes Act requires regular
reporting and analysis of antitrust enforcement related to small
businesses. It directs the two enforcement agencies to submit those
biennial reports to the SBA Office of Advocacy, detailing their
antitrust work.
That office, in turn, is positioned to take that information and data
and report and recommend to Congress steps that may be prudent for our
consideration in increasing the competitiveness of small businesses in
the marketplace.
By better understanding how antitrust enforcement affects small
businesses, Congress can make more informed policy decisions to promote
competition, prevent harmful market consolidation, and ensure small
businesses have a fair opportunity to grow.
Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, a free-market economy requires
that players compete in good faith and have an opportunity to be at the
table when the competition occurs. Small businesses are where ideas
come from. They are the lifeblood of our communities.
This bill makes sure that policymakers and antitrust enforcers are
taking those facts into consideration.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the work to make this happen, and I
encourage my colleagues to vote for this bill.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Scholten), the sponsor of this bill.
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Chairman Williams,
for his assistance in getting this bill to the floor. It means so much
to me.
As an attorney, I have to say this might be one of the easiest
debates I have ever participated in. I think we are all in agreement
that this is an essential bill for this moment in America.
Small businesses are the foundation of our economy, but too often
they are left to compete against a handful of large corporations, a
real David and Goliath situation. Our Nation's antitrust laws exist for
the purpose of helping to level the playing field, not giving anyone a
special step up, but leveling the playing field for entrepreneurs.
As costs continue to rise and practices, like predatory pricing,
threaten businesses across industries, it is clear that we have to do
more to keep markets fair and competitive.
When industry consolidation goes too far, innovation is stifled and
small businesses struggle to compete. The truth is that we all end up
paying the price for unfair, monopolistic conduct. It is time for
Congress to act. This is the job that the people have entrusted us
with.
My bill would direct the Small Business Administration's Office of
Advocacy to work with the FTC and DOJ to examine the gaps in our
antitrust laws.
[[Page H4151]]
We can't fix a problem that we don't understand. This bill will help us
ensure that we have the information we need to boost competition in
every industry.
I include in the Record a letter of support.
Main Street,
Competition Coalition,
June 23, 2026.
Members of Congress: On behalf of thousands of Main Street
businesses and agricultural producers across the United
States, the Main Street Competition Coalition writes to
express our support for the Main Street Competes Act.
This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Reps. Derek
Schmidt (KS-02) and Hillary Scholten (MI-03), would refocus
the Small Business Administration on promoting competitive
markets, enhancing consumer choice, and encouraging business
ownership.
The Main Street Competition Coalition represents a diverse
group of Main Street businesses and agricultural producers
dedicated to revitalizing and reforming the antitrust laws.
We support antitrust policies that establish a level playing
held for businesses and consumers alike. Our primary
objective is to promote competition so consumers have real
choices.
Rigorous enforcement of U.S. antitrust laws is critical to
preserving competitive markets empowering small businesses to
compete, and preventing dominant players from undermining
competition and free enterprise.
The Main Street Competes Act would empower the Small
Business Administration to evaluate the effectiveness of
antitrust law enforcement in maintaining a competitive
landscape for small businesses. We respectfully request that
members of the House of Representatives vote YES on the
legislation when it comes to a vote.
Sincerely,
The Main Street
Competition Coalition.
Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, as the voice for Main Street in our
Federal Government, the Office of Advocacy is uniquely equipped to
bring small businesses to the forefront of antitrust issues.
My bill will ensure that the Office of Advocacy is in lockstep with
our Nation's top antitrust enforcement agencies, enhancing
collaboration and bringing a unified response to monopolistic
practices. It will also require the Office of Advocacy to submit a
report to Congress, detailing antitrust violations reported by small
businesses, so the people, through their Representatives, can have
ready access to this information, as well.
If we want to build an economy that creates opportunity for everyone,
we need Main Street at the table. My bill will do just that.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Kansas, Mr. Schmidt, again,
for working with me on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to
support this bill.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we must pass H.R. 8882 to help
ensure small businesses remain competitive. This legislation will help
us identify barriers to growth and ways to improve access. I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
New Jersey (Ms. Mejia).
Ms. MEJIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8882,
the Main Street Competes Act.
New Jersey's 11th Congressional District is a vibrant community in
great part because of our thriving Main Streets. As I engage my
constituents across New Jersey's 11th, I spend a lot of time talking to
entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, and local employers.
Whether it is a manufacturer in Fairfield, a restaurant owner in
Morristown, or a retailer trying to keep their doors open on Main
Street, I hear the same thing over and over again: They don't want
special treatment. They just want a fair shot.
Unfortunately, that is not always the reality. Too often, small
businesses find themselves competing against companies with enormous
market power and deep pockets. When anticompetitive behavior goes
unchecked, it is the mom-and-pop businesses that pay the price. Small
businesses face higher costs, fewer opportunities, and an increasingly
uneven playing field.
That is why this bill matters. The Main Street Competes Act
strengthens coordination between the Federal Trade Commission, the
Department of Justice, and the Small Business Administration's Office
of Advocacy to ensure small business concerns don't get lost in the
shuffle.
This legislation gives Congress a clearer picture of how
anticompetitive practices are affecting small businesses and helps make
sure that the voices of entrepreneurs are actually being heard.
Frankly, this is long overdue. Small businesses are responsible for
nearly half of the private-sector jobs in this country, yet often our
policy discussions are dominated by the biggest players.
At a time when businessowners are already navigating rising costs,
workforce shortages, and economic uncertainty, the last thing they need
is a marketplace rigged against them.
This act is a practical, bipartisan bill that makes our government
work better for the people who take the risk of opening a business,
hiring workers, and investing in their communities, like the incredible
businesses in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District.
Mr. Speaker, I speak on behalf of small business owners across New
Jersey and across my district, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
8882.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for
closing.
Mr. Speaker, the Main Street Competes Act would direct the SBA's
Office of Advocacy to evaluate the Federal Trade Commission's and
Justice Department's efforts to protect small businesses from unfair,
anticompetitive practices and to report annually on the state of the
competitive landscape.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bill, and I strongly urge my
colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in
favor of H.R. 8882 because it promotes a stronger, more competitive
environment for the Main Street of America and businesses to succeed
and create jobs. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 8882.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________