[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 66 (Thursday, April 24, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SBIR/STTR REAUTHORIZATION ACT

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                               speech of

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 23, 2008

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5819) to 
     amend the Small Business Act to improve the Small Business 
     Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business 
     Technology Transfer (STTR) program and for other purposes:

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 
5819, the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act. Enactment of this bill will 
extend important programs that improve American competitiveness in the 
world, and I urge its adoption.
  The State of Colorado houses a strong and vibrant collection of 
cutting-edge small businesses, and businesses in my own district employ 
SBIR awards to promote advanced research in aeronautic, biotechnology, 
and other important industries. This bill will ensure that small 
businesses and research firms will continue to have access to the 
capital that enables them to compete with large firms both at home and 
abroad. Ultimately, this bill is about increasing competition and 
ensuring that good ideas are not lost for a lack of resources.
  This bill also modernizes the SBIR and STTR programs in order to 
better suit the needs of small businesses, ensuring that small 
businesses that receive funding from venture capital firms are allowed 
to receive SBIR grants. Though some suggest that this policy undermines 
the spirit of the program, the reality for many small businesses is 
that their most consistent sources of funding are from venture capital 
firms and the SBIR program. This bill proposes sensible limits on the 
participation of venture capital firms so that small businesses can 
continue to rely on these two important sources of funds.
  As co-chair of the House Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
Mathematics (STEM) Education Caucus and a representative of a district 
with a major research institution, I support this legislation because 
it will help keep America more technologically and economically 
competitive. I commend the committees for their hard work on this 
legislation, and I look forward to its enactment.

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