Sen. Carl Levin  (D-Mich.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) have both agreed to include the amendment in any final Senate-passed legislation.

"All small businesses should be given an equal opportunity to succeed," Landrieu said. "That's what this amendment does - it puts businesses that are part of these programs on equal footing when competing for government contracts. This is a strong step in the right direction for all entrepreneurs."

In the past, HUBZone businesses were given greater consideration over other companies for government contracts and service-disable veteran businesses were given no special consideration. This amendment changes that, putting HUBZone, 8(a) and veteran businesses on the same level of consideration.