Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains

The Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains Subcommittee is a specialized panel within the House Committee on Small Business that handles a narrower slice of the parent committee's work. It focuses on three interconnected policy areas: enhancing rural economic and business growth, increasing America's energy independence, and ensuring small businesses can compete effectively in global markets. The subcommittee also reviews supply chain disruptions and their impacts on small firms, with particular emphasis on products made in America. Additionally, it oversees the Small Business Administration's outreach to rural entrepreneurs, agricultural policies related to small business interests, and trade policies affecting small firms.

Chaired by Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), a former Navy fighter pilot, and with Ranking Member Kelly Morrison (D-MN), a physician and freshman representative, the subcommittee has 10 members split 6-5 between Republicans and Democrats. The panel has held recent hearings on topics including data center growth in rural America and rural innovation investments. Rep. Morrison has been particularly active, introducing the Rural Small Business Resilience Act to improve disaster relief access for rural small businesses and the SBIR/STTR Application Assistance Act to help small firms engage in research and development. The subcommittee's work reflects Congress's recognition that rural and small business concerns require specialized attention within the broader small business legislative agenda.