FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 27, 2022
Contact:
Molly Day
202-552-2904
Senate Passes SBIR Reauth Bill, Clears Way for 3-Year Extension
Washington, D.C. – Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a bill reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, clearing the biggest hurdle for a much-needed reauthorization just over one week prior to the Sept. 30 deadline. Below is a statement from NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken and its Small Business Technology Council Executive Director Jere Glover.
Todd McCracken, President and CEO of NSBA:
“This legislation moves the program forward to avoid a catastrophic program shut-down and is a significant victory for small business,” stated McCracken. “I applaud Sen. Cardin and his cohorts and their staff for their tireless efforts to find a compromise that enables this highly successful program to continue.
“Despite some differences in what NSBA sought in the reauthorization, this bill is the epitome of compromise: it addresses concerns some had about research security while ensuring there will be no lapse in small businesses ability to research, create and innovate in a way that best serves the needs of the federal government.”
Jere Glover, Executive Director of SBTC:
“We have worked closely with lawmakers on this bill for months, and in the decades I’ve been working with the SBIR/STTR programs, never have we experienced a more difficult reauthorization process,” stated Glover. “Not only does instability and a lack of predictability deeply harm the small-business owners who participate in these programs, it does a huge disservice to the federal agencies who utilize these technologies and creates vast inefficiencies in the program.
“I look forward to continuing our work with lawmakers to get this bill passed and signed, and anticipate a collaborative transition to the new rules and requirements under the program. Our top priority must be to ensure the countless ground-breaking innovations that have resulted from the SBIR/STTR programs continue in a way that is beneficial, fair and straightforward for America’s small-business innovators.”
The House is set to vote on S. 4900 as soon as this week.
Celebrating 85 years in operation, NSBA is a staunchly nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of America’s entrepreneurs. SBTC is a council of NSBA and focuses on critical high-tech and innovation programs through the federal government. NSBA and SBTC’s 65,000 members represent every state and every industry in the U.S., and we are proud to be the nation’s first small-business advocacy organization. Please visit www.nsba.biz or @NSBAAdvocate.
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