For Immediate Release: July 8, 2009

Representative Betty Sutton Works to Create Small Business Jobs, Spur Economic Growth

Two amendments offered by Congresswoman Sutton are included in the bill, which will more than double the amount of grant funding for small businesses.

Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Betty Sutton voted in support of the Small Business Innovation and Research Act (SBIR), which modernizes and reauthorizes the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, the government's largest small business research and development programs. The House passed the measure by a 386 to 41 vote. The bill will more than double the amount of grant funding for small businesses.

Two amendments offered by Congresswoman Sutton are included in the bill. One will create job opportunities and preferences for veterans. The other will require priority to be given to grant applicants from areas of the country that have lost a major source of employment, including Ohio, where 83 of the 88 counties have experienced mass layoffs or plant closures since 2001.

"Focusing funds in areas that have suffered the most and have endured major job losses will ensure that this money is helping people in the communities that need it most," Rep. Sutton said.

The underlying bill also includes language that Congresswoman Sutton offered as an amendment last Congress. Agencies administering the SBIR program will now be required to give special consideration in awarding grants to transportation infrastructure activities.

"This bill ensures that small businesses will have access to federal research and development funding so they can continue to be the engines of economic growth and innovation that our economy so desperately needs," Rep. Sutton said. "Supporting small business research and development will create new products and millions of new American jobs for years to come."

The SBIR will broaden the pool of businesses that participate in the programs by reaching out to rural entrepreneurs, minorities and women. Rep. Sutton's amendments include support for veterans, including increased outreach to those disabled in service.

"It is not enough to simply pay tribute to our veterans with our words," she said. "We must show appreciation through our actions to the 26 million brave men and women who sacrificed years of their lives to protect our country, many of whom are small business owners."

Small businesses create 60 to 80 percent of new jobs in America, which is critical to getting our economy back on track. Furthermore, high growth start-ups that will receive these funds have job growth rates nearly four times that of bigger firms.

Since 1992, the SBIR and STTR programs awarded 65,000 grants to small companies that are leading research efforts to cure diseases, strengthen national defense and reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources. Without action by Congress, these programs will expire later this month.

For information about grant funding for small businesses, please visit www.sba.gov.

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Contact: Maureen Shanahan at 202-225-3401 or maureen.shanahan@mail.house.gov