SBIR and STTR Funding

On September 15, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 5100 to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which provide early-stage, equity-free funding to thousands of small businesses across the country. However, the Senate has not yet taken action.

Consequently, congressional authority for SBIR and STTR expired on September 30, 2025. Without reauthorization, federal agencies cannot issue new awards, and current solicitations may be delayed, cancelled, or rescinded. Compounding the issue, federal appropriations also expired on the same date, meaning the Small Business Administration cannot respond to inquiries during the government shutdown.

SBIR and STTR programs support over 4,000 small businesses each year and help create more than 65,000 jobs annually. Letting these programs lapse puts thousands of businesses at risk and threatens America’s leadership in research and technology.

We need your help. Join our letter-writing campaign to urge the Senate to reauthorize SBIR and STTR. Your voice can make a difference in protecting vital funding for small businesses and preserving U.S. innovation.

Dear [Lawmaker],

I am writing to express my strong support for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and to urge you to reauthorize these vital initiatives without delay.
Since 1982, SBIR has fostered a culture of innovation in the United States by providing small businesses with funding to develop their ideas from tiny sparks into transformative technologies. Known as “America’s Seed Fund,” SBIR and STTR have had major impacts on the United States’ economy and led to significant job creation. The programs invest $4 billion each year in an average of 4,000 companies across the country, including in rural areas. SBIR/STTR awards in the Department of Defense alone accounted for an average of 65,578 jobs per year between 1995-2017. Success stories emerging from SBIR include NASA’s Perseverance Rover on Mars, as well as companies such as Qualcomm and IntraLase, which developed lasers for Lasik eye surgery.
The recent lapse in authorization has already begun to disrupt progress, forcing agencies to pause new awards and solicitations. This uncertainty threatens over 10,000 small businesses and hundreds of millions of dollars in unfinished research. At a time when global competition is intensifying, we cannot afford to lose momentum or risk falling behind.
SBIR and STTR are proven engines of innovation and economic growth. I urge you to work with your colleagues in Congress to swiftly reauthorize these programs and provide the stability and support that America’s small businesses need to continue driving scientific and technological breakthroughs.
Thank you for your leadership and for your commitment to American innovation.

Sincerely,
______

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