[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 102 (Thursday, July 9, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1691-E1692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ENHANCING SMALL BUSINESS RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    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. DINGELL. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 2965, the 
Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009.

[[Page E1692]]

Since 1982 the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) an the Small 
Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs have assisted thousands of 
innovative, cutting-edge small businesses in successfully getting their 
products to the marketplace.
  The SBIR and STIR programs provide small businesses the ability to 
compete for federal funding, thus ensuring the best companies are 
getting their products to the market. Firms across all fields, from 
alternative energy and biotechnology to national defense, have 
benefited from the ability to get seed money from the government to 
fully develop and market their products and technology. The modest 
investments the government makes in these firms have provided 
tremendous rewards, allowing 1500 new companies each year to get off 
the ground. In my home state of Michigan, the SBIR/STTR programs have 
invested $534 million, $215 million of which Michigan has received 
since 2003. Overall, 450 Michigan companies have benefited from SBIR/
STTR, including two thriving firms in Michigan's 15th Congressional 
District, Adaptive Materials and Al23Systems.
  Not only does H.R. 2965 reauthorize the SBIR/STTR programs which are 
set to expire on July 31, 2009, it also modernizes them, placing an 
emphasis on commercialization, expanding access for minority-owned and 
rural business, and creating a more efficient and streamlined process 
for participating companies.
  The SBIR program is designed so that technology-driven firms have the 
chance to advance their ideas, develop them, and ultimately 
commercialize their products. This legislation is critically important 
for companies in Michigan, and across the country, as it gives them the 
ability to continue to get their products to the market, especially at 
a time when the economy is so badly hurting. I urge all my colleagues 
to vote for this important legislation.

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