Main Street Competes Act — House Report 119-682 (June 3, 2026)
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Summary
House Report 119-682, submitted June 3, 2026 by Mr. Williams of Texas from the Committee on Small Business in the 2d Session of the 119th Congress, to accompany H.R. 8882, the Main Street Competes Act, together with minority views. The Committee reports the bill favorably without amendment and records that on May 20, 2026 it ordered H.R. 8882 reported by a roll call vote of 23 ayes to 0 nos. The report describes the bill as amending the Small Business Economic Policy Act of 1980 and directing the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to submit biennial reports on antitrust complaints, investigations and enforcement actions involving small businesses to the SBA Office of Advocacy, which must analyze the data and recommend measures to Congress. It notes the bill was introduced May 19, 2026 and lists hearings held February 5, 2025 and January 7, 2026.
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“Main Street Competes Act — House Report 119-682 (June 3, 2026).”
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119TH CONGRESS REPORT
" HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES !
2d Session 119–682
MAIN STREET COMPETES ACT
JUNE 3, 2026.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of
the Union and ordered to be printed
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas, from the Committee on Small Business,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
together with
MINORITY VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 8882]
The Committee on Small Business, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 8882) to amend the Small Business Economic Policy Act of
1980 to examine how the competitiveness of small businesses is af-
fected by the enforcement of Federal antitrust laws, and for other
purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon
without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose and Bill Summary ........................................................................ 2
II. Need for Legislation .................................................................................... 2
III. Hearings ....................................................................................................... 2
IV. Committee Consideration ........................................................................... 2
V. Committee Votes ......................................................................................... 2
VI. Section-by-Section of H.R. 8882 ................................................................. 4
VII. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate ............................................. 4
VIII. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 4
IX. Oversight Findings & Recommendations .................................................. 4
X. Performance Goals and Objectives ............................................................ 5
XI. Statement of Duplication of Federal Programs ........................................ 5
XII. Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits ..................................................................................................... 5
XIII. Federal Mandates Statement ..................................................................... 5
XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement ................................................... 5
XV. Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................... 5
XVI. Statement of Constitutional Authority ...................................................... 5
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XVII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ........................ 5
XVIII. Minority Views ............................................................................................ 10
69–006
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I. PURPOSE AND BILL SUMMARY
On May 19, 2026, Rep. Hilary Scholten (D–MI) and Rep. Derek
Schmidt (D–KS), introduced H.R. 8882, the Main Street Competes
Act. H.R. 8882 requires regular reporting and analysis of antitrust
enforcement related to small businesses.
II. NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The Main Street Competes Act addresses concerns that small
businesses have limited visibility into how federal antitrust en-
forcement affects their ability to compete. While large mergers and
anti-competitive practices can disadvantage small firms, there is
currently no consistent, government-wide assessment of how en-
forcement actions by federal antitrust agencies affect small busi-
ness competitiveness or how such agencies respond to small busi-
ness complaints.
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. This bill
takes a targeted, data-driven approach to support Main Street
businesses and improve economic competitiveness.
This legislation directs federal antitrust agencies, the Federal
Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, to submit data
on complaints, investigations, and enforcement actions involving
small businesses to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Office of Advocacy (Advocacy). It also requires Advocacy to compile
findings, evaluate trends, and provide recommendations to Con-
gress on how to improve competition and address harmful anti-
competitive conduct.
III. HEARINGS
The Committee on Small Business held the following hearings
examining matters related to H.R. 8882:
• On February 5, 2025, the Committee held a hearing titled
‘‘Hope on the Horizon: Prioritizing Small Business Growth in
the 119th Congress’’
• On January 7, 2026, the Committee held a hearing titled
‘‘A Voice for Small Business: How the SBA Office of Advocacy
is Cutting Red Tape’’
IV. COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
The Committee on Small Business met in open session, with a
quorum being present, on May 20, 2026, and ordered H.R. 8882 to
be reported favorably to the House of Representatives by a roll call
vote of 23 ayes to 0 nos.
V. COMMITTEE VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representa-
tives requires the Committee to list the recorded votes on the mo-
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tion to report legislation and amendments thereto. The Committee
voted to favorably report H.R. 8882 to the House of Representatives
at 4:14 PM.
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VI. SECTION-BY-SECTION OF H.R. 8882
Section 1—Short title
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Main Street Competes Act.’’
Section 2—Congressional declaration of Small Business Economic
Policy
This section updates the Small Business Economic Policy Act of
1980 to emphasize the importance of competitive markets by
strengthening enforcement of federal antitrust laws against anti-
competitive conduct and illegal mergers that harm small busi-
nesses.
Section 3—Report on the state of small business concerns
This section directs the Department of Justice and Federal Trade
Commission to submit biennial reports to the SBA Office of Advo-
cacy detailing antitrust enforcement activity related to small busi-
nesses, including complaints, investigations, and enforcement ac-
tions. The SBA Office of Advocacy must then analyze this data,
evaluate impacts across industries, and provide recommendations
through a report to Congress on ways to promote competition and
address harmful anticompetitive behavior.
VII. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE
Pursuant to 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursu-
ant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. At the
time this report was filed, the Committee has requested but not re-
ceived a cost estimate from the Director of the Congressional Budg-
et Office.
VIII. NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX
EXPENDITURES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives and section 308(a)(I) of the Congressional Budg-
et Act of 1974, the Committee provides the following opinion and
estimate with respect to new budget authority, entitlement author-
ity, and tax expenditures. While the Committee has not received an
estimate of new budget authority contained in the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursu-
ant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee does not believe that there will be any new or increased
costs attributable to this legislation.
IX. OVERSIGHT FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS
In accordance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 2(b)(1)
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the over-
sight findings and recommendations of the Committee on Small
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Business with respect to the subject matter contained in H.R. 8882
are incorporated into the descriptive portions of this report.
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X. PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of
the Rules of the House of Representatives, the goal of H.R. 8882
is to require regular reporting and analysis of antitrust enforce-
ment related to small businesses.
XI. STATEMENT OF DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, no provision of H.R. 8882 is known to be dupli-
cative of another Federal program, including any program that was
included in a report to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public
Law 111–139 or the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic As-
sistance.
XII. CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND
LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS
With respect to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the Committee finds that the bill does not con-
tain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited
tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI of
the Rules of the House of Representatives.
XIII. FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee will adopt as its own the estimate of the Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Of-
fice pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
XIV. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation.
XV. APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or
accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Con-
gressional Accountability Act.
XVI. STATEMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of the Rules of the House, the
Committee finds that the authority for this legislation in Art. I, § 8,
cl.1 of the Constitution of the United States.
XVII. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill,
as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omit-
ted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics,
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and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in
roman):
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CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill,
as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omit-
ted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics,
and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in
roman):
SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC POLICY ACT OF 1980
* * * * * * *
TITLE III—SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC POLICY
* * * * * * *
DECLARATION OF SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC POLICY
SEC. 302. (a) For the purpose of preserving and promoting a com-
petitive free enterprise economic system, Congress hereby declares
that it is the continuing policy and responsibility of the Federal
Government to use all practical means and to take such actions as
are necessary, consistent with its needs and obligations and other
essential considerations of national policy, to implement and coordi-
nate all Federal department, agency, and instrumentality policies,
programs, and activities in order to: foster the economic interests
of small businesses; insure a competitive economic climate condu-
cive to the development, growth and expansion of small businesses;
establish incentives to assure that adequate capital and other re-
sources at competitive prices are available to small businesses; re-
duce the concentration of economic resources and expand competi-
tion; øand provide¿ provide an opportunity for entrepreneurship,
inventiveness, and the creation and growth of small businessesø.¿;
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.
(b) Congress further declares that the Federal Government is
committed to a policy of utilizing all reasonable means, consistent
with the overall economic policy goals of the Nation and the preser-
vation of the competitive free enterprise system of the Nation, to
establish private sector incentives that will help assure that ade-
quate capital at competitive prices is available to small businesses.
To fulfill this policy, departments, agencies, and instrumentalities
of the Federal Government shall use all reasonable means to co-
ordinate, create, and sustain policies and programs which promote
investment in small businesses, including those investments which
expand employment opportunities and which foster the effective
and efficient use of human and natural resources in the economy
of the Nation.
øSTATE OF SMALL BUSINESS
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øSEC. 303. (a) The president shall transmit to the congress not
later than January 20 of each year a report on small business and
competition which shall—
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7
ø(1) examine the current role of small business in the econ-
omy on an industry-by-industry basis;
ø(2) present current and historical data on production, em-
ployment, investment, population, job creation and retention,
annual business failures, annual business startups, andother
economic variables for small business in the economy as
awhole and for small business in each sector of the economy,
with, to the extent practicable, specific statistics divided as
tourban, suburban, and rural areas;
ø(3) identify economic trends which will or may affect the
small business sector and the state of competition;
ø(4) examine the effects on small business and competition
of policies, programs, and activities, including, but not limited
to the Internal Revenue Code, the Employee Retirement In-
come Security Act, the Securities Act of 1933, and the Securi-
ties Exchange Act of 1934, and regulations promulgated there-
under; identify problems generated by such policies, programs,
and activities; and recommend legislative and administrative
solutions to such problems; and
ø(5) recommend a program for carrying out the policy de-
clared in section 302 of this Act, together with such rec-
ommendations for legislation as he may deem necessary or de-
sirable.
ø(b) The President also shall transmit simultaneously as an ap-
pendix to such annual report, a report, by agency and department,
on the to total dollar value of all Federal contracts exceeding
$10,000 in amount and the dollar amount (including the sub-
contracts thereunder in excess of $10,000) awarded to small, minor-
ity-owned, female-owned, and veteran-ownedbusinesses.
ø(c) The President may transmit from time to time to the Con-
gress Supplementary reports supplementary to the Report on Small
Business and Competition, each of which shall include such supple-
mentary or revised, recommendations as he may deem necessary or
desirable to achieve the policy declared in section 302 of this Act.
ø(d) The Report on Small Business and Competition and all sup-
plementary reports transmitted under subsections (b) and (c) of
this section shall, when transmitted to Congress, be referred to the
Senate Select Committee on Small Business and the Committee on
Small Business of the House of Representatives.
ø(e) The information and data required to be reported pursuant
tosubsection (a) shall separately detail those portions of such infor-
mation and data that are relevant to—
ø(1) small business concerns owned and controlled by socially
and economically disadvantaged individuals, by gender, as de-
fined pursuant to section 8(d) of the Small Business Act;
ø(2) small business concerns owned and controlled bywomen;
and
ø(3) qualified HUBZone small business concern (as definedin
section 3(p) of the Small Business Act).
ø(3) small business concerns owned and controlled
byveterans, as defined in section 3(q) of the Small Business
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Act(15 U.S.C. 632(q)), and small business concerns owned
andcontrolled by service-disabled veterans, as defined in such
section 3(q).¿
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8
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 en-
acted, and every two fiscal years thereafter, the head of each speci-
fied entity shall submit to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Of-
fice of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration a report in-
cluding—
(1) an analysis of how enforcement by the specified entity of
Federal antitrust laws promoted competition during the pre-
ceding 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 com-
plaints filed by small businesses with the specified entity dur-
ing 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 de-
scribed 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 relat-
ing 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 ac-
tions that could—
(A) promote competition;
(B) deter anticompetitive conduct, including illegal merg-
ers, 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;
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(B) deter anticompetitive conduct, including illegal merg-
ers, that harmed small business and the growth of small
businesses; and
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9
(C) remedy such anticompetitive conduct.
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 sub-
section (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 ‘‘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.
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XVIII. MINORITY VIEWS
A competitive business environment is the lifeblood of a thriving
free-enterprise economy, spurring innovation, driving productivity,
and fostering consumer choice at fair prices. America’s Main Street
businesses are a critical component of our economy, and their suc-
cess hinges upon 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. One study found that 75 percent of
industries have seen increasing concentration since the mid-1990s
and the average firm is roughly three times larger than 20 years
ago.
Federal antitrust laws are crucial tools protecting the competi-
tive environment for small businesses. They exist to prevent mo-
nopolies or collusion that can harm competition or stifle innovation,
create barriers to market entry, and harm consumers and workers
through inflated prices or suppressed wages. Regrettably, their lim-
ited use in recent decades has contributed to the ongoing con-
centration of industries. As a result, corporations with outsized
market power have exploited their dominant positions, using pred-
atory pricing, price discrimination, self-dealing, and exclusionary
conduct to squeeze smaller competitors. Not only has this jeopard-
ized the survival of many small businesses, but it has also stifled
the entrepreneurial spirit.
The SBA’s Office of Advocacy has a broad mandate to advocate
for small businesses within the federal government. Its primary
functions include the requirement to ‘‘recommend specific measures
for creating an environment in which all businesses will have the
opportunity to compete effectively and expand to their full poten-
tial.’’ Given its mandate, it is uniquely positioned to work with
antitrust enforcement bodies like the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). While these agencies
have the power to enforce these laws, they may not have the direct
input from small businesses necessary to make important decisions
on enforcement action. By fostering collaboration between these en-
forcement agencies and the Office of Advocacy, Congress can en-
sure the input of small businesses are considered and reaffirm the
Office of Advocacy’s commitment to being the voice for small busi-
nesses within the Federal government.
NYDIA M. VELÁZQUEZ,
Ranking Member.
Æ
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