Small Business Additional Temporary Extension Act of 2011
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Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, America's 27 million small businesses drive U.S. economic growth and innovation. Those small companies have created 64 percent of our net new jobs over the past 15 years. Strong and vibrant economies are built from the ground up, and as our Nation's entrepreneurs are making decisions to take risks and invest they need to know that their elected officials are looking out for them and providing them with the certainty they need to have confidence moving forward. That confidence will result in increased economic output, new jobs, and a better way of life for all Americans.
The legislation we have before us is a simple extension of programs overseen by the Small Business Administration through September 30, 2011. The current authorizing legislation expires at the end of this month, and we need additional time to continue our legislative work.
Chief among the programs we are extending today is the Small Business Innovative Research Act, the largest Federal Government small business research and development initiative. Earlier this month, the Small Business Committee held a markup of legislation that would fully authorize the SBIR program through 2014. This bipartisan legislation passed our committee by voice vote, and we are ready to bring this legislation to the floor to provide our small entrepreneurs with the certainty that they need to move forward. Unfortunately, the long term SBIR reauthorization introduced by our counterparts in the other body has been stalled and the prospect of them passing that legislation still remains unclear. We have reached out to the other body and are continuing a constructive dialogue on finding a solution to fully authorize the SBIR program as well as other important small business initiatives. It is my hope that we can continue to work in a bipartisan and bicameral way to pass this long-term reauthorization.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 990, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the economy is showing signs of recovery on several fronts, adding 1 million jobs in the last 6 months. While this is very good news, we still have a long way to go, and this is why we need small firms more than ever.
Small businesses, which create two-thirds of new jobs, drive employment gains and economic expansion. Time and again, they have generated the ideas and know-how that spark job growth. However, entrepreneurs must have the resources and tools they need to start up or expand. The legislation we are considering today provides them and extends the authorization of several Small Business Administration programs. For many firms these initiatives are critical, enabling them to secure financing and more effectively compete for Federal contracts.
While we must keep these programs operational, it is unfortunate that we are doing so through another temporary extension. However, it is my hope that we can reach a lasting agreement on the agency's authorization so that we do not have to come back here again in a few months.
Small businesses across the Nation depend on a strong SBA. This is especially true now when many unemployed individuals are turning to entrepreneurship as a source of income. By ensuring that the agency's programs do not lapse, we are providing small businesses with a foundation for future growth, and in doing so, helping move the economy forward.
I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me reiterate that small businesses can and will lead our economic recovery, and this is a very strong case for fully authorizing the SBIR and STTR programs. They have a proven track record of creating jobs, advancing innovative science in the marketplace, and solving Federal agency problems.
These programs provide a bridge between product conception and marketability--a step of vital importance for innovative ideas to become a reality. The new technologies and discoveries that come out of these programs go a long way towards keeping our competitive edge in the world marketplace, and the SBIR and the STTR programs are the kind of public-private partnership that is essential to the continued growth of our economy.
I look forward to working with Ranking Member Velázquez, our colleagues on the Small Business Committee, and our colleagues in the other body on a long-term reauthorization in the coming months.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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