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Protecting Small Business Competitions Act of 2025
To amend the Small Business Act to codify the Rule of Two, and for other purposes.
Summary
- Codifies the "Rule of Two" into law, requiring government contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold to be reserved for small business concerns.
- Applies the Rule of Two when the contracting officer reasonably expects to receive offers from two or more responsible small businesses.
- Requires that contracts reserved under the Rule of Two are expected to be awarded at a fair market price.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
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![Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/M000133.thumb.jpg)
Sen. Markey, Edward J. (D-MA)
3 cosponsors
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![Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/B001288.thumb.jpg)
Sen. Booker, Cory A. (D-NJ) -
![Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/M001153.thumb.jpg)
Sen. Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK) -
![Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/S001198.thumb.jpg)
Sen. Sullivan, Dan (R-AK)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Edward J. Markey’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- WILMERHALE $29,800
- STANFORD UNIVERSITY $13,200
- THE WONDERFUL COMPANY $13,200
- BAD ROBOT $13,200
- GOOGLE $12,850
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Edward J. Markey → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Aug 1, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. · senate
- Aug 1, 2025 Introduced in Senate
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 1, 2025
Mr. Markey (for himself, Mr. Sullivan, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. Booker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
A BILL
To amend the Small Business Act to codify the Rule of Two, and for other purposes.
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 “Protecting Small Business Competitions Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. CODIFICATION OF THE RULE OF TWO.
Section 15(j) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(j)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(4) Rule of Two.—Each contract, task order, or delivery order for the purchase of goods or services that has an anticipated value greater than the simplified acquisition threshold shall be reserved for small business concerns when the contracting officer reasonably expects—
“(A) to obtain offers from 2 or more responsible small business concerns; and
“(B) to award the contract, task order, or delivery order at a fair market price.”. <all>
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