WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Small Business is holding a full committee hearing titled “Fostering American Innovation: Insights into SBIR/STTR Programs.”

Chairman Roger Williams’ opening statement as prepared for delivery:

Welcome to today’s hearing, “Fostering American Innovation: Insights into SBIR/STTR Programs.”

I want to thank our witnesses for being here today. Many of you traveled to share your experiences and perspectives, and we deeply value your time and voice. 

Small businesses are the backbone of innovation and economic prosperity in America. The ability to take an idea, develop it into a product, and bring it to the market drives innovation and economic growth - strengthening our nation’s competitiveness. 

For over four decades, the SBIR and STTR programs have fueled American innovation by providing early-stage funding to small businesses, allowing them to develop cutting-edge technologies that strengthen our economy and support our 
military. From lifesaving medical advancements to next generation defense capabilities, these programs have empowered Main Street to turn ideas into reality for the government and private sector. 

The SBIR and STTR programs channel federal R&D dollars in phases to small businesses, enabling the development of innovative ideas that align with the needs of federal agencies. These agencies can offer SBIR and STTR awards through two avenues. First, through targeted solicitations, where the agency requests a product that meets specific requirements, or through open topics, where small businesses propose innovative solutions to meet an agency’s mission. 

Prominent companies, including Qualcomm, 23andMe, and Bose, began as small businesses that leveraged the SBIR program to become industry leaders, demonstrating the program’s power to drive innovation and economic growth. 

Our responsibility here in Washington is to ensure these programs continue to foster groundbreaking advancements while remaining free from foreign exploitation. In today’s hearing, we will examine these programs' challenges and address and propose unresolved solutions from the last reauthorization.

SBIR and STTR have long supported American ingenuity, yet these vital programs still face growing threats. The CCP continues to exploit the SBIR and STTR programs, siphoning taxpayer-funded research back to China. This undermines American innovators' intellectual property rights and jeopardizes our nation’s national security. 

The due diligence program established in the last reauthorization continues to face limitations in effectively preventing CCP infiltration. At the same time, small businesses participating in these programs face significant barriers in transitioning from research to commercialization, lacking access to capital.

With SBIR and STTR set to expire in September 2025, we have a critical opportunity to make changes to ensure these programs operate efficiently and support small business growth to ultimately accomplish the program’s goal of fulfilling R&D needs. Ensuring these programs are awarded by merit after rigorous competition will continue driving the best innovations to the top. Innovators thrive in an environment where competition reigns supreme, where they are free from limitations or caps on their success. 

Working alongside the Trump Administration, we will continue to prioritize policies that protect our innovators, cut bureaucratic red tape, and create an environment where Main Street America can survive and thrive. 

With that, I will yield to our distinguished Ranking Member from New York, Ms. Velázquez.

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