Talk SHOP · Issue 1 · October 2026
Small business policy is shaped by two branches of government: the legislative branch, where Congress writes the laws, and the executive branch, where the administration carries them out through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and other agencies.
In this first issue, we break down which committees in Congress steer small business policy – authority known as jurisdiction, derived from U.S. House and Senate rules – and who leads those committees.
Next month, we’ll focus on the SBA and how it defines small businesses.
Let’s dive in!
Issues ranging from taxes and workforce policy to capital access, technology, health care, and federal spending are set by a cross-section of congressional committees, not just the two devoted to small business.
While the U.S. House and Senate Small Business Committees play an important role, many of the policies affecting small businesses are developed in other committees.
Understanding Congress's committee structure can help small business owners and employees identify where legislation is likely to emerge, what committees will drive its progress, and which members of Congress hold the most sway.
The upcoming midterm election on November 3, 2026, will determine which party controls the U.S. House and Senate, and with it, who leads these committees when the next Congress begins in January 2027.
Small business issues span multiple congressional committees
| Policy Area | U.S. House Committee | U.S. Senate Committee |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Small Business Administration | Small Business | Small Business & Entrepreneurship |
| Tax / Trade / Social Insurance* | Ways & Means | Finance |
| Labor / Workforce / ERISA** | Education & Workforce | Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions |
| Business Capital / Credit | Financial Services | Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs |
| Commerce / Technology | Energy & Commerce | Commerce, Science, & Transportation |
| Health Care^ | Energy & Commerce | Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions |
| Federal Funding^^ | Appropriations | Appropriations |
* Social insurance refers to government programs funded by payroll taxes, such as Social Security and unemployment insurance.
** ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) is the federal law that sets rules for most retirement and health benefit plans that private employers offer their workers.
^ Health care policy often falls under overlapping jurisdiction, including House Ways & Means and Education & Workforce as well as Senate Finance.
^^ Federal funding refers to spending bills that decide how much money federal agencies and programs receive each year, including the SBA.
Each committee is led by a chair from the majority party, currently Republicans in both chambers. The ranking member is the top member of the minority party, and is often next in line for the gavel if their party wins control.
Regardless of the election, some leadership changes are already locked in. For instance, Senate Small Business Chair Joni Ernst (R-IA) and House Small Business Ranking Member Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) are retiring. That means both small business committees will have at least one new leader in January.
Committee chairs and ranking members by policy area
| Policy Area | U.S. House Committee | Chair (Republican) | Ranking Member (Democrat) |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Small Business Administration | Small Business | Roger Williams (TX) | Nydia Velázquez (NY)† |
| Tax / Trade / Social Insurance* | Ways & Means | Jason Smith (MO) | Richard Neal (MA) |
| Labor / Workforce / ERISA** | Education & Workforce | Tim Walberg (MI) | Bobby Scott (VA) |
| Business Capital / Credit | Financial Services | French Hill (AR) | Maxine Waters (CA) |
| Commerce / Technology | Energy & Commerce | Brett Guthrie (KY) | Frank Pallone (NJ) |
| Health Care^ | Energy & Commerce | Brett Guthrie (KY) | Frank Pallone (NJ) |
| Federal Funding^^ | Appropriations | Tom Cole (OK) | Rosa DeLauro (CT) |
*, **, ^, ^^ See definitions above.
† Not seeking reelection in 2026.
Committee chairs and ranking members by policy area
| Policy Area | U.S. Senate Committee | Chair (Republican) | Ranking Member (Democrat) |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Small Business Administration | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Joni Ernst (IA)† | Ed Markey (MA) |
| Tax / Trade / Social Insurance* | Finance | Mike Crapo (ID) | Ron Wyden (OR) |
| Labor / Workforce / ERISA** | Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions | Bill Cassidy (LA)† | Bernie Sanders (VT) |
| Business Capital / Credit | Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs | Tim Scott (SC) | Elizabeth Warren (MA) |
| Commerce / Technology | Commerce, Science, & Transportation | Ted Cruz (TX) | Maria Cantwell (WA) |
| Health Care^ | Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions | Bill Cassidy (LA)† | Bernie Sanders (VT) |
| Federal Funding^^ | Appropriations | Susan Collins (ME) | Patty Murray (WA) |
*, **, ^, ^^ See definitions above.
† Not seeking reelection or defeated for reelection in 2026.
Committee leadership as of October 2026. Each committee name above links to the committee’s own website.
