[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 16, 2026

  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3971, the Small 
Business Innovation and Economic Security Act.
  S. 3971 reauthorizes the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 
and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to unleash 
American innovation. SBIR and STTR provide federal Research & 
Development (R&D) funding to small technology companies. These programs 
are collectively called ``America's Seed Fund'' because they help 
startups develop their ideas and grow their businesses, bringing them 
to market.
  This bill provides these companies with vital research and 
development grants from federal science agencies that support their 
work while also having robust research security provisions in place to 
safeguard from malicious actors.
  I am happy that the Small Business Committee has successfully 
coordinated with the Science, Space, and Technology Committee--both 
majority and minority--on this legislation and that we all support it. 
These past few months have left this vital program unauthorized, 
leading to devastating real-world impacts for small businesses that 
desperately need funding and stability to thrive.
  The entrepreneurial spirit is a quintessentially American tradition, 
and it has helped make our Nation great. Supporting small businesses is 
as American as it gets. It also keeps our economy competitive, which is 
critical for the United States to stay ahead of foreign adversaries 
like the Chinese Communist Party that seek to dominate the global 
marketplace.
  This bill will empower small businesses, support this age of American 
innovation, and help entrepreneurs continue developing the ideas of 
tomorrow. I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 3971.

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