[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 102 (Thursday, July 9, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ENHANCING SMALL BUSINESS RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ACT OF 2009

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                               speech of

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 8, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2965) to 
     amend the Small Business Act with respect to the Small 
     Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business 
     Technology Transfer Program, and for other purposes:

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2965, the 
Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act. This legislation 
undermines the very reason for the creation of the Small Business 
Innovation Research (SBIR) program and squanders the opportunity to 
provide vital resources to our country's small business community.
  The Small Business Innovation Research program was created by 
Congress with the recognition that small businesses could not compete 
with their larger corporate competitors in the federal grantmaking 
process. This grant program provides small, innovative businesses 
across the nation with the necessary resources to significantly 
contribute to the federal government's research and development 
efforts. With the enactment of the SBIR program, Congress made clear 
its commitment to support the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of 
small businesses.
  Section 102 of H.R. 2965 would alter the ownership rule provision by 
providing venture capital firms and venture capital subsidiaries of 
large corporations the space to increase their ownership in small 
businesses applying for SBIR grants. Relaxing the venture capital 
standards for SBIR and STTR grant eligibility undermines the ability of 
the SBIR program to ensure that small business can address the 
disproportionate competitive advantages that large business have.
  In a time of economic crisis, maintaining the integrity of the SBIR 
program could not be of more importance. We must recognize the 
significant contributions that small business makes to our economy and 
preserve the programs that drive their success.

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