15 USC § 9551 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t15/s9551"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "15 USC § 9551 - Definitions"
title_number: 15
title_name: "COMMERCE AND TRADE"
section_number: "9551"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 120
chapter_name: "MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "RURAL MINORITY BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 117–58, div. K, title III, § 100301, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1458.)"
---


# § 9551. Definitions

In this subchapter:

**(1)** **Appropriate congressional committees** The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

**(A)** the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and

**(B)** the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.

**(2)** **Eligible entity** The term “eligible entity” means—

**(A)** a minority-serving institution; or

**(B)** a consortium of institutions of higher education that is led by a minority-serving institution.

**(3)** **MBDA Rural Business Center** The term “MBDA Rural Business Center” means an MBDA Business Center that provides technical business assistance to minority business enterprises located in rural areas.

**(4)** **MBDA Rural Business Center agreement** The term “MBDA Rural Business Center agreement” means an MBDA Business Center agreement that establishes the terms by which the recipient of the Federal assistance award that is the subject of the agreement shall operate an MBDA Rural Business Center.

**(5)** **Minority-serving institution** section 1067q(a) of title 20

The term “minority-serving institution” means an institution described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of .

**(6)** **Rural area** section 1991(a) of title 7

The term “rural area” has the meaning given the term in .

**(7)** **Rural minority business enterprise** The term “rural minority business enterprise” means a minority business enterprise located in a rural area.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 117–58, div. K, title III, § 100301, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1458.)