[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 75 (Thursday, May 5, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2360-S2361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA:
  S. 4158. A bill to amend the small business laws to create certain 
requirements with respect to the SBIR and STTR program, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
``Encouraging Small Business Innovation Act,'' which I introduced 
today.
  During National Small Business Week, we are celebrating the 
resiliency of our Nation's entrepreneurs who are leading our economic 
recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  To promote a strong recovery for the 32.5 million small businesses 
across the country, Congress should bolster Federal programs that 
support these entrepreneurs and innovators.
  For more than 40 years, the Small Business Innovation Research and 
Small Business Technology Transfer Programs have spurred innovation, 
job creation, and economic growth.
  These programs have generated breakthroughs in a wide range of 
sectors, including agriculture, defense, energy, healthcare, and 
transportation.

[[Page S2361]]

  Today, the Small Business Administration and 11 participating Federal 
Agencies leverage the SBIR and STTR Programs to help small innovative 
firms explore their potential and increase the commercialization of 
innovations arising out of Federal research and development.
  While these critical programs have invested more than $40 billion in 
small businesses, many firms, especially those that are minority- or 
women-owned, still face considerable barriers to participation.
  As we look to spur innovation and drive small business growth, 
Congress should improve the diversity of these programs, enhance access 
to capital, and expand the eligible uses of funds to better support the 
needs of U.S. small businesses.
  That is why I am proud to introduce this bill to increase the 
effectiveness of the SBIR and STTR Programs by improving diversity, 
enhancing access to capital, and expanding the eligible uses of funds.
  This bill would direct participating Federal Agencies to use a 
portion of their SBIR allocation to conduct outreach and provide 
technical assistance to underserved populations and states.
  It would also allow Small Business Investment Companies to 
participate as investors in SBIR and STTR projects and permanently add 
testing and evaluation activities permanently as an eligible expense, 
which can be resource-intensive for small firms, across all relevant 
agencies.
  Additionally, this bill would require participating Federal Agencies 
to conduct a joint annual meeting to share best practices for improving 
data collection and streamlining processes across the programs.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this bill to improve 
the effectiveness of the SBIR and STTR Programs.

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