Rep. Steve Knight

Knight is Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy for the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce for the U.S. House Committee on Small Business.

“H.R. 2763 ultimately helps small businesses advance innovation and research that will help industries across California and the nation,” Rep. Knight said.

“The advantages of supporting small business in their ventures are endless as some of the greatest entrepreneurial developments in technology originate from the support of the surrounding community and government resources,” he said. “I am proud to promote legislation that helps entrepreneurs and small business owners expand their reach and make way for the future of innovation.”

H.R. 2763 holds the Small Business Administration (SBA) accountable while spurring innovation by requiring that they give a comprehensive report of the SBIR and STTR programs to Congress by December 31 of each year.

Additionally, the legislation will hold the Department of Defense (DOD) accountable to stimulate technological innovation by requiring the DOD include more SBIR and STTR developed technology in larger programs of record. This legislation will update and strengthen Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program.

“Republicans in Congress are working hard for the top priorities for all small businesses: regulatory relief and pro-growth tax cuts,” said SST Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (TX-21).

“Innovation for small businesses has also long been instrumental in the success of our country’s small business sector. Today, our committee approved the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Improvements Act of 2017, which makes key improvements to the SBIR and STTR programs,” Smith said.

“These critical programs have helped to spur small business innovation across multiple sectors of our economy. The $3 billion that these programs award to small businesses annually helps recipients further R&D to create new products and technologies that create thousands of American jobs,” Smith said. “This legislation updates these programs to match our ever-evolving business environment. I thank Congressman Knight for his long-standing leadership on this important issue and look forward to passing this bill in the House soon.”

H.R. 2763 was unanimously approved by the House Small Business Committee on June 15.

Representative Steve Knight (R-Antelope Valley) represents California’s 25th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives, which includes the communities throughout the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Simi Valleys.