« Gingrich Calls on Obama to End Bailouts | Main | Alliance for Biosecurity Testifies Before Congress on Funding for Medical Countermeasure Development »
Senate Extends Vital Small Business Programs
March 18, 2009The United States Senate passed a bill last night sponsored by Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Ranking Member Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, to temporarily extend the Small Business Administration's (SBA) programs through July 31, 2009. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives earlier yesterday. Specifically, the bill extends the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which would have expired on Friday, giving Congress more time to pass a comprehensive bipartisan bill that will strengthen and improve the SBIR program and provide long-term stability for the program. SBIR is necessary for the planning purposes of agencies and the business models of our small, high-technology firms. Full release.