U.S. Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), chair of the House Committee on Small Business, said the one piece of legislation considered this week was approved out of committee.
Williams said HR 5100, a bill that would extend the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs was approved during mark-up and moved to the full House. Those programs were set to expire on Sept. 30. The legislation approved this week would extend the program for one year.
“For over forty years, the SBIR and STTR programs have provided small businesses with access to the valuable resources that allow them to be at the forefront of American innovation,” Williams said. “With the programs expiring soon, it was critical we act swiftly to ensure our nation’s greatest innovators continue to receive the resources they need to keep America competitive. Today, this Committee took that critical step, voting to extend the SBIR and STTR programs for one year, as we work to make them stronger.”
The legislation was introduced by Williams and is co-sponsored by 18 other House members including U.S. Reps. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Brian Babin (R-TX), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Danie Meuser (R-PA), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Mark Alford (R-MO), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Tony Wied (R-WI), Robert Bresnahan (R-PA), Brian Jack (R-GA), Tony Downing (R-MT), Jimmy Patronis (R-FL)Derek Schmidt (R-KS) and Scott Peters (D-CA).
The bill passed the committee with a vote of 27-0.