The House of Representatives approved Wednesday two bills intended to make it easier for small businesses to access capital, and in turn create more jobs.

The Small Company Capital Formation Act, introduced by Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), increases the initial-public offering threshold for small businesses to $50 million from $5 million. The measure, approved by a vote of 421 to 1, represents the first instance in nearly two decades in which the Securities and Exchange Commission raised the threshold on what's known as Regulation...