Press Release

HOUSE HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL MARKET

Washington, DC -- To help local small businesses grow and compete in the global marketplace, U.S Representative Michael A. Arcuri (D-Utica) voted yesterday to modernize and expand the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR), the federal government’s largest small business research and development program.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and I am committed to making sure we do everything we can at the national level to provide local businesses with the resources they need to succeed,” said Arcuri. “This legislation will help small businesses with new innovation and research resources - bringing small businesses into the forefront of technological innovation. Across Upstate New York, small businesses are loyal partners in our communities and I will do all I can in Congress to support them.”

America’s 26 million small businesses represent more than 99.7 percent of all employers and create up to 80 percent of new jobs nationwide.

Small Business Innovation Research & Small Business Technology Transfer Reauthorization (H.R. 5819), which passed the House yesterday evening, would extend for two years the federal government’s largest small business research and development programs and increases funding for small research firms by half a billion dollars. It would ensure that small businesses receive critical research and technology grants in a timely manner, expand commercialization to get small business technology to the market, increase competition for small business awards to produce the greatest return for taxpayers, and allow venture capital-backed small businesses to participate in the program.

H.R.5819 would also establish an initiative to increase participation from small firms owned by veterans, women and minorities and those located in rural areas.  This will diversify the program and increase competition for these important awards.

Since taking office, Arcuri has repeatedly voted to strengthen small business programs. Arcuri voted for the Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act (H.R. 1873) to increase opportunities for small businesses to compete for federal government contracts. He also voted from the Small Business Administration Entrepreneurial Development Programs Act of 2007 (H.R. 2359) to ensure regulations are up-to-date with the current business climate.
  
The House of Representatives has passed, with Arcuri’s strong support, numerous pro-small business measures including $4.84 billion in tax relief for small business owners, and the Small Business Lending Improvements Act, which provides small businesses with tools to encourage entrepreneurial innovation.

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