On December 4, 1941, the U. S. House of Representatives created the first House Select Committee on Small Business. The select committee was established in response to a growing number of small business activists and organizations advocating for more protections and better government policies for America’s small businesses. While it had no legislative authority, the select committee became popular with House members and was reauthorized each Congress until January 5, 1975, when it was made a permanent standing committee. House members then granted the new standing committee with certain areas of legislative jurisdiction and oversight functions, increasing its scope and influence.