[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 126 (Tuesday, September 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2001

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                               speech of

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 24, 2001

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of reauthorizing 
the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. Continuing this 
program will encourage the development of small businesses and help 
strengthen our economy.
  I have been a long time supporter of this program. It helps small 
businesses, including minority and women owned businesses, to 
participate in the research and development of new technologies. 
Various businesses in my district have benefitted from the STTR program 
as they work with the many research institutions and federal agencies 
located in the Washington region.
  The STTR program has been successful since the launch of its pilot 
program in 1992. This success was recognized as funding for the pilot 
program was twice reauthorized in 1994 and 1996. Now, we can make this 
a permanent program and encourage participating agencies to implement 
outreach programs to small businesses and research institutions that 
will enhance the STTR program.
  The STTR program has helped small businesses benefit the economy by 
encouraging technology innovations and job creation. This program has 
been credited for promoting collaborative efforts in research and 
development. Under this program, small businesses are exposed to the 
scientific knowledge available at our nation's research institutions. 
In addition, the STTR program helps move academic theories from 
research institutes to viable commercial use that benefit our nation 
and the world.
  Furthermore, in a recent GAO report that examined 102 projects under 
the STTR program, companies and research institutions indicated that 
they felt both contributed significantly to the research and 
development of new technologies. Their collaborative effort contributed 
to the construction and testing of prototypes and in providing 
equipment and facilities. Most of these projects were successful. For 
those projects that were discontinued, companies indicated insufficient 
funding for further technical development as a basis for terminating 
their projects.
  This piece of legislation, encourages the continued viability of the 
STTR program. The legislation increases the percentage of the 
extramural budget required to be expended by agencies participating in 
the program from 0.15 percent to 0.3 percent. The permanent nature of 
the program is acknowledged by striking the word `pilot' as previously 
used to describe the program. Also, the amount a small business can 
receive under a Phase II award increases from $500,000 to $750,000, in 
line with the Phase II awards of the Small Business Innovative Research 
(SBIR) program.
  In addition, the legislation requires participating Federal agencies 
to collect and maintain information. This will allow for a quick 
oversight of the program's progress. Also, the information would be 
kept in similar databases that agencies have already created to monitor 
the SBIR program.
  By passing this legislation we will endorse a program that has been 
successful since 1992. The STTR program will ensure that the 
partnership between research institutions and small businesses, which 
adapts research technologies for commercial use, continues till at 
least 2008.
  Therefore, I urge all members to support this legislation that 
encourages the development of small businesses and the continued 
cooperation between federal agencies and small businesses in the 
research and development of new technologies that benefit the nation.

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