[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 119 (Monday, August 9, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1542-E1543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 27, 2010

  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant support of H.R. 5849, which 
extends the Small Business Administration's programs--including the 
Small Business Innovation Research program--for another 60 days. It is 
disappointing that we must again approve an extension of these 
programs, particularly the SBIR program. We should have reauthorized 
SBIR long ago, and we should not be dragging this process out further. 
Unfortunately, we find ourselves yet again without a compromise bill as 
the program's most recent extension sunsets.
  Knowledge-driven endeavors are essential if our nation is to compete 
globally, but without making important changes to the 20-year-old SBIR 
program, we are giving today's companies outdated tools. Today's 
extension marks the seventh time since September 2008 that we have 
approved a ``temporary'' extension of the SBIR program. This is a 
travesty.
  Mr. Speaker, I will be supporting today's extension of the SBIR 
program. But I am utterly opposed to a further extension after today. 
We have an obligation to America's high-tech entrepreneurs to ensure a 
steady and predictable funding stream from the SBIR program

[[Page E1543]]

that is updated for today's economy. It is time we complete our work on 
this vital program. We have dillydallied for far too long. We can 
resolve any remaining differences in the bills passed by each chamber 
in 30 minutes if the principals will simply get in one room and 
negotiate face-to-face in good faith.
  I look forward to working with my colleague, the chair of the House 
Small Business Committee, Ms. Velazquez, to finalize a full 
reauthorization of the SBIR program in the coming weeks.