Two Weeks to Expiration: Ranking Member Markey Applauds Passage of House Bill to Protect Competitive Innovation Programs for America’s Small Businesses

RM Markey urges Senate passage: "The clock is winding down, and small businesses cannot afford to watch it hit zero"

(Washington, September 15) - With only two weeks until the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs expire, Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today applauded unanimous House passage of a one-year extension for the SBIR/STTR programs. Ranking Member Markey called for the bill's urgent passage in the Senate to ensure America's small businesses can continue to make essential contributions to federal and national Research and Development (R&D) needs through competitive, merit-based programs such as SBIR/STTR.

"Last week, I heard from small businesses about how critical the SBIR and STTR programs are to ensuring our competitive edge on the global stage, to our strong economy, and to our national security," said Ranking Member Markey. "We all agree these programs cannot lapse. The bipartisan one-year extension unanimously passed by the House today will allow us to continue negotiating a long-term extension while ensuring our most nimble allies, small businesses, can stay in the game. I urge my colleagues to help move this extension across the finish line and think twice before sinking small businesses and American innovation. The clock is winding down, and small businesses cannot afford to watch it hit zero."

Ranking Member Markey is leading the charge to ensure the SBIR/STTR programs do not lapse and are not fundamentally destroyed by arbitrary, wholesale changes that hurt American innovation. He continues to fight to defend our small business innovators who keep America competitive on the global stage:

• Last week, Ranking Member Markey delivered remarks at DefendSBIR's Capitol Hill Forum, an event that brought together businesses and government leaders to discuss the importance of maintaining a competitive SBIR/STTR program for the nation's security. Ranking Member Markey then went to the Senate floor to pass his SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025, which would make permanent, defend, and strengthen the SBIR/STTR programs. His legislation was blocked by Senate Republicans.

• In August, Ranking Member Markey hosted a listening session at The Engine at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to hear directly from research and innovation small businesses about the importance of protecting federal innovation programs like SBIR/STTR amidst President Trump's attacks on universities, cuts to federal agencies and research, and reckless tariff policies.

• In July, Ranking Member Markey slammed the Trump administration at a hearing on research security for staging an assault on American innovation through devastating cuts to government agencies that fund critical research and research institutions. Ranking Member Markey emphasized the importance of protecting programs like SBIR/STTR to give America a fighting chance as a leader in the global innovation economy.

• In May, Ranking Member Markey and House Small Business Committee Ranking Member Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) introduced the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025, which would make permanent and strengthen the SBIR/STTR programs. The legislation would maintain the competitiveness of the programs and includes an extension of the bipartisan foreign due diligence efforts that protect American innovation from foreign adversaries.

For over 40 years, the SBIR/STTR programs have delivered more than $70 billion in research and development (R&D) funding to over 30,000 small businesses nationwide, ushering in technological breakthroughs that have benefited everyday Americans and strengthened national security. The SBIR/STTR programs are set to expire on September 30, 2025, if they are not reauthorized by Congress.

Permalink: https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2025/9/two-weeks-to-expiration-ranking-member-markey-applauds-passage-of-house-bill-to-protect-competitive-innovation-programs-for-america-s-small-businesses