Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for calling our first hearing of the year to discuss the need to reauthorize both the SBIR Program, the Small Business Innovation Research Program, and the Small Business Technology…

Shame on us if we do not require the provisions that were passed in the reauthorization to be implemented by all of the government agencies involved.

I think we ought to make these programs permanent so we do not have to go through this process periodically.

It is my understanding that Adam Szubin has been held up and we have never heard a reason why he is being held up in that committee. Is that the Senator's understanding as well?

I thank Senator Coons. As we know, one of the challenges is having people in place in the various agencies who can enforce this agreement and hold Iran accountable. That is where I think we have a real challenge because we have a number of…

these are programs that have had broad bipartisan support, and they have had that support because they have been so effective.

On the Senate Small Business Committee, we recently held hearing on this issue so we can get started on a bill to make the program permanent.

The SBIR program ensures that small businesses have an opportunity to conduct R&D for federal agencies, including Defense agencies.

I recently convened a meeting with my Small Business Advisory Council in New Hampshire and there were a number of issues raised that I would like to discuss.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. General, congratulations, and thank you for being willing to take on this task.

I agree that that should be a priority for us.

Obviously, North Korea's recent actions show that it is going to continue to defy the international norms, UN Security Council resolutions, and all other reasonable actions that we would expect from that country.