Encouraging Small Business Innovation Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 206, the Encouraging Small Business Innovation Act of 2019. For almost 40 years, our Nation has experienced increased innovation and job creation through the Small Business Innovation Research program and the Small Business Technology Transfer program.

As a direct result of these programs, breakthroughs have been made in a wide range of sectors, from agriculture, to energy, and most notably, healthcare. Research conducted by SBIR and STTR awardees has helped address our country's most important technological and research-based challenges while generating tremendous economic growth and employment opportunities.

These programs encourage small firms, where much of today's cutting- edge ideas are born, to explore their potential while also providing the incentive to profit from its commercialization.

Yet, as with any program, improvements can be made to further strengthen the program and its impact on our economy.

By incentivizing more experienced SBIR and STTR firms to mentor newer companies and rewarding mentors through a past-performance rating increase, Congressman Rouda's legislation, H.R. 206, positively promotes integrating these program participants into the larger Federal marketplace.

Just as we are concerned with the broader ability of SBIR and STTR firms to compete more broadly, it is important to ensure the participation of all businesses within the program. Just like with geography, when it comes to demographics, it is important that the SBIR and STTR are serving all entrepreneurs.

This measure requires participating agencies to use part of their SBIR allocation to conduct outreach to minorities and underrepresented States by removing the waiver of this requirement from the statute. Doing so, guarantees that a wide range of ideas are provided the opportunity to thrive.

Finally, H.R. 206 requires an annual summit of these agencies to share best practices to improve data collection and streamline processes across the programs. As a result, I believe this bill is crucial to modernizing the program and preserving our Nation's competitiveness.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Rouda) for introducing today's bill to increase the assistance to SBIR and STTR firms.

Since their inception, over $40 billion in awards have been made, proving their success as a funding source for small innovative firms.

As we have done before, we must ensure the longevity of the program by guaranteeing it reflects modern R&D practices. It must also optimize participation through mentorship incentives and Phase 3 awards, in addition to including small business investment companies in the SBIR and STTR programs to stimulate investment.

This bill achieves this goal and guarantees the program meets the needs of our next generation of SBIR and STTR firms. H.R. 206 makes certain that the program remains a catalyst for not just innovation, but also the economic empowerment and job creation that is associated with these scientific advances.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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