The National Grocers Association has welcomed House passage of the Main Street Competes Act, bipartisan legislation that would strengthen the Small Business Administration’s focus on promoting competitive markets, expanding consumer choice and supporting small business growth and ownership.
According to a Congressional Research Service summary, the bill requires the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to report biennially to the SBA on how their enforcement of federal antitrust law has promoted competition and deterred anticompetitive conduct that harms small businesses, and requires the SBA to report to Congress a summary of those findings along with recommendations for actions that may promote competition. The House passed the measure, H.R. 8882, by voice vote, according to the House clerk’s records.
“America’s small businesses thrive when markets are fair, competitive and open to innovation,” said Laura Strange, NGA chief public affairs and advocacy officer. “The Main Street Competes Act recognizes that competition is a cornerstone of entrepreneurship and economic opportunity. By enhancing the SBA’s ability to assess market concentration and its impact on small businesses, this legislation will help create a more level playing field for independent operators seeking to compete and grow.”
The legislation reinforces the SBA’s role in evaluating competitive conditions across industries and helps ensure that federal small business policy remains focused on fostering entrepreneurship, consumer choice and economic opportunity, according to NGA.
“NGA appreciates representatives Derek Schmidt (KS-02) and Hillary Scholten (MI-03) for their bipartisan leadership in advancing this important legislation and securing its passage in the House,” Strange said. “Their efforts reflect a strong commitment to ensuring that small businesses remain a vital part of America’s economy and communities.”
About National Grocers Association
The National Grocers Association is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. The independent grocery sector accounts for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and generates more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes, according to the association. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers in every congressional district, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers.
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