Bipartisan, bicameral bill from Sens. Coons, Risch, Smith, Gardner & Reps. Luján, Fleischmann supports small business innovation

Statement

U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), James Risch (R-ID), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Cory Gardner (R-CO), along with U.S. House Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), today introduced the Small Businesses Partnering with National Labs Act of 2019, which allows small businesses to gain access to premier facilities at the national labs, spurring innovation and stimulating the culture of private-public collaboration.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy. However, the cost of investing in necessary but expensive capital equipment often prohibits small businesses from pursuing truly innovative ideas and developing groundbreaking products. In order to address these challenges, this bill authorizes a small business voucher program that will allow small businesses to conduct feasibility studies and analyze the innovation potential of new technologies by accessing facilities and expertise at the national labs. The bill also streamlines the application and approval process for vouchers, eliminating barriers that prevent small businesses from exploring the potential of new technologies.

"Small businesses are at the forefront of creating innovative solutions to the problems that face our nation," said Sen. Coons. "Often, small businesses need access to unique facilities and resources to succeed in developing truly groundbreaking products. This bill provides businesses with access to world-class facilities and experts to help strengthen the ecosystem of small business innovation in the U.S."

"American small businesses have led innovation for generations, creating lasting solutions in the fields of science, medicine, technology, and more," said Sen. Risch. "Utilizing the unique assets and expertise of our national laboratories, this bill provides additional resources for entrepreneurs to research and test their latest advancements. In my home state, the Idaho National Lab has been a leader in public/private partnerships and serves as a great example of how well this collaboration works."

"Minnesota has a long history of innovation. When I host roundtables and meetings across the state, I'm struck by the many ways Minnesotans are addressing important issues and developing innovative products, and having more access to DOE laboratory facilities and expertise will help," said Sen. Smith. "As a former small business owner myself, I want to make it possible for more small businesses in Minnesota and across the country to access the resources they need to ensure their businesses create good jobs, grow the economy, and help them and their families thrive."

"Connecting small businesses to our national labs will lead to more innovation from American businesses on Main Street," said Sen. Gardner. "This is a bipartisan, commonsense approach that will give our small businesses the tools they need to be competitive and succeed in the global economy."

"Our economy is driven by innovation and a desire to create. But far too often, the tools, research, or space needed to innovate are out-of-reach for small businesses," said U.S. House Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján. "This legislation will make it easier for small businesses to access lab technologies and resources by streamlining partnership agreements and creating vouchers to be used at labs and research facilities - ensuring that small businesses and national laboratories continue to be technological leaders in the United States."

"This bill combines the entrepreneurial strength of small businesses with the incredible resources and expertise of our national labs. In my district, Oak Ridge National Lab is home to several state-of-the-art user facilities, such as the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility and the Spallation Neutron Source, and I am happy to play a part in this effort to enable the types of public/private partnerships that grant small businesses access to facilities like these, and in turn, help to drive our nation's innovation ecosystem," said Rep. Fleischmann.