SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act

SBIR/STTR REAUTHORIZATION ACT -- (House of Representatives - April 23, 2008)

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam Chairman, my amendment is very simple. It provides a voice to veteran-owned small businessmen on the newly created Small Business Innovation Research Board.

The advisory board will oversee the design and award process for SBIR grants. By including a veteran-owned small businessman or -woman on the board, we will ensure that the criteria used towards small business grants will include areas for which our veterans specialize, areas such as weapons development and destruction, communications networking, and many more skills that have been uniquely acquired through their military service.

When I was first elected last year, I formed a constituent-based Veterans Advisory Board in my district. Over the past year, I have worked very closely with these men and women to find new ways to better serve them and the veterans of our district throughout our Nation who have sacrificed so much for this great country. It is for this reason that I strongly believe that veterans need advice on the SBIR advisory board and why I have been working with the board to draft legislation to address the problems of homeless vets and to ease the transition from active duty to civilian life.

When our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines leave service after multiple deployments abroad and a tremendous sacrifice by them and their families, the least we can do is to ease their transition and help them get their businesses off the ground.

I, therefore, urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

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