Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations

The Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations is a specialized panel within the House Committee on Small Business that focuses on how federal regulations and government programs affect small business owners. As a subcommittee, it conducts initial hearings and reviews legislation within its narrow jurisdiction, preparing the groundwork for the full committee to consider bills for the House floor.

The subcommittee's core mission is to examine the regulatory burdens imposed on small businesses by federal agencies and identify ways to reduce those burdens. It also investigates the effectiveness and accountability of government policies and programs affecting small businesses, including oversight of the Small Business Administration, the SBA Inspector General, and the SBA's Office of Advocacy. The subcommittee reviews how federal regulations impact small business operations and examines the implementation of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which is designed to minimize regulatory impact on small entities.

The subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) with Rep. Derek Tran (D-CA) serving as Ranking Member. The panel has ten members total. Recent activity includes a March 2025 hearing on restoring the SBA to its intended mission of serving Main Street businesses, reflecting the subcommittee's focus on ensuring that federal agencies and programs effectively support rather than burden small business owners.