The Bipartisan Standard: A 70-Year Mandate to Protect Small Business

For 70 years, protecting small businesses in federal contracting has not been a partisan issue—it has been a core American principle, consistently upheld by overwhelming, bipartisan votes in Congress. This timeline establishes the baseline against which today’s policymakers must be measured.

It provides the facts for voters, local leaders, and small businesses to ask their representatives a simple question: Do you stand with this 70-year history of support for competition and community suppliers, or are you choosing to abandon it?

1950s-1970s: The Foundation

1953 - The Small Business Act

Passed by Congress with a near-unanimous vote of 393-2 and signed by Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Act created the Small Business Administration (SBA) and declared it the policy of the U.S. government to ensure small businesses receive a "fair proportion" of federal contracts.

1978 - Small Business Goaling Program & "Rule of Two"

Established through amendments passed by unanimous consent and voice vote in Congress, creating government-wide procurement targets and strengthening the "Rule of Two" to be enforced across all federal agencies.

1990s: Strengthening the Framework

1997 - Small Business Reauthorization Act

Passed by unanimous consent in both the House and Senate and signed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, this act raised the government-wide small business contracting goal to 23% and established goals for various subcategories.

2010s: Enforcing the Law

2016 - Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. v. United States

In a unanimous 8-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that the "Rule of Two" is a mandatory requirement. Justices from across the ideological spectrum supported this unambiguous enforcement of the law.

2018 & 2019 - National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA)

Multiple NDAAs passed with overwhelming bipartisan support (e.g., House 377-48 and Senate 86-8) and were signed by President Donald J. Trump, further strengthening reporting, certification, and mentor-protégé programs.

The Standard for Today's Congress

This 70-year record of votes and laws is the standard. It demonstrates a clear, unequivocal, and long-standing congressional mandate to protect and promote America's small business suppliers.

Any policy, vote, or administrative action that weakens these protections is a radical departure from this history. The question for every member of Congress is whether they will uphold this legacy or stand by as it is erased.