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House Small Business panel approves one-year extension for SBIR, STTR programs
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Summary
The House Committee on Small Business favorably reported H.R. 5100, a one-year clean extension of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, by a recorded vote of 27-0. The committee also made two subcommittee appointments by unanimous consent and authorized technical changes to the bill.
The House Committee on Small Business voted to report H.R. 5100, a one-year extension of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, by a recorded vote of 27-0.
The chair opened the markup by saying the committees would consider a bipartisan bill to avoid a lapse in programs that provide early-stage federal research funding to small businesses. "Today, we will mark up a bipartisan, bill that is critical to protecting American innovation," the chair said, adding that SBIR and STTR "are set to expire on September 30 unless Congress takes action to reauthorize them." The bill was presented as a one-year ‘‘clean’’ extension to preserve continuity while longer-term negotiations continue.
The ranking member, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez of New York, urged support for the extension while saying permanence remained her long-term priority. "For more than 40 years, SBIR and STTR have been among the federal government's most effective engines for driving innovation," Velázquez said. She warned that allowing the programs to lapse would "cut off a vital source of early stage funding for small businesses, delay commercialization and promising technologies, and weaken the federal government's ability to access new and emerging technologies." Velázquez said she appreciated the chair's support for a one-year extension while negotiations on a comprehensive reauthorization continue.
The committee first handled several procedural items by unanimous consent, including authorizing the chair to declare a recess at any time and naming Rep. Alford and Rep. Elsey to the Subcommittee on Contracting Infrastructure. The clerk reported H.R. 5100 as "read and open for amendment," and no amendments were offered.
A voice vote initially indicated approval, after which a member requested a recorded roll-call vote. The clerk reported "the ayes are 27 and the noes are 0," and the committee concluded that "H.R. 5100 is adopted and will be reported in favor to the House." The committee authorized staff to make technical and conforming changes to the bill and gave members two business days to file additional supplemental or minority views.
The markup lasted through the procedural and reporting actions and concluded with the committee adjourning following the vote. The one-year extension preserves SBIR and STTR authorities through the next fiscal year while committee members continue negotiating a longer-term reauthorization.
