Lamar Smith: “I support H.R. 2763, the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Improvements Act of…”

“I support H.R. 2763, the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Improvements Act of 2017. And I thank the gentleman from California, Mr. Knight, for introducing this important legislation. He serves on the two Committees that share jurisdiction over the SBIR and STTR programs: the Small Business Committee, chaired by my good friend, Mr. Chabot, and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which I chair. Mr. Knight took the lead on last year's timely reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR programs, and he is the sponsor of H.R. 2763, which makes a number of needed policy changes to increase the programs' efficiency and effectiveness. The SBIR program was signed into law by President Reagan in 1982, followed by the STTR program in 1992. These programs help spur economic innovation and competitiveness, and increase small business participation in federal research and development activity. SBIR and STTR award winners convert the results of taxpayer-supported pioneering research into products that are critical to our economic competitiveness and national security. Recent examples include parts for NASA's Mars Rover and a unique cockpit airbag system to protect Army helicopter pilots. Today 11 federal agencies provide funding to small businesses through SBIR, and five agencies provide funding through STTR--a total of nearly $3 billion this fiscal year.…”