 the u.s. senate committee on small business and entrepreneurship is a standing committee of the united states senate. it has jurisdiction over the small business administration and is also charged with researching and investigating all problems of american small business enterprises. ==history== the senate committee on small business was first established as the select committee on small business on february 20, 1950, with approval of senate resolution 58 during the 81st congress. that first committee had just nine members. it was the first select committee created by the senate that still operates today. the committee's jurisdiction has been changed several times since it was first created, through additional powers or by changing the manner in which committee members are appointed. while first established as a select committee with limited responsibilities, it now possesses virtually all the characteristics of a standing committee, as outlined under senate rule 25. during the 96th congress, the committee acted on legislation to reauthorize the small business administration that expanded the agency to include loan programs for employee ownership, small business development centers, and increased export development assistance for small businesses. since its creation, the committee has held hearings on paperwork reduction and elimination (which eventually led to the paperwork reduction act), capital formation, tax and securities law reform for small business, steel plant shutdowns, and the impact of inflation on governmental actions on the housing industry. the committee was changed from small business to committee on small business and entrepreneurship beginning in 1981. [edit] ==jurisdiction== initially, the small business committee only had limited oversight over the small business administration. the committee was directed to report to the senate from time to time with its recommendations regarding small business matters. with the adoption of s. res. 272 during the 82nd congress, the committee was granted subpoena power, and the ability to "sit and act at such times during the sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of the senate." these abilities are common to the other standing committees in the senate. s. res. 272 also provided for a more structured committee, with specific requirements on a quorum of members needed for the committee to conduct its business, and its own committee staff. s. res. 58 stipulated that beginning with the 95th congress, the small business committee would be granted jurisdiction over all legislation relating to the small business administration. this ability was granted s. res. 104, agreed to on april 29, 1976, provided for this new jurisdiction, g
1950_establishments_in_the_United_States Committees_of_the_United_States_Senate Economy_of_the_United_States Organizations_established_in_1950