Main Street Competes Act

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Schmidt), my good friend.

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. 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.

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. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Scholten), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. Mejia).

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. 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. 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.

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.