DOE and SBA Research Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4669) to provide for Department of Energy, National Laboratories, and Small Business Administration joint research and development activities, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4669, the DOE and SBA Research Act, sponsored by my good friend, Representative LaLota, from the great State of New York.

Our national laboratories provide some of the most cutting-edge scientific research initiated by the U.S. Government. The 17 national labs across the country help ensure we remain world leaders in a variety of disciplines, including our Nation's self-defense.

This legislation will ensure that the great work of our national labs and SBA are ensuring small businesses can play a part in these crucial activities. Small businesses play an important role in American innovation. The Committee on Small Business has heard countless testimonies from entrepreneurs who have found inefficiencies in many different industries and have since gone to work fixing these problems.

This is very similar to the work of our national labs as this bill, establishing a memorandum of understanding, will prove mutually beneficial to both parties.

The DOE and SBA Research Act is vital to increasing the opportunities that innovative small businesses must work with some of the most innovative federally funded research organizations in the world.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 4669, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space,

and Technology

Washington, DC, December 1, 2023.

Hon. Roger Williams,

Chairman, Committee on Small Business,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Williams: I am writing concerning H.R. 4669,

the ``DOE and SBA Research Act'', which was referred

primarily to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,

with an additional referral to the Committee on Small

Business.

H.R. 4669 contains provisions within the Committee on

Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. As a

result of your having consulted with the Committee and in

order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego

action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our

mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or

alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space,

and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees,

or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject

matters contained in the bill or similar legislation.

I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming

this understanding, and would request that you include a copy

of this letter and your response in in the Congressional

Record during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you

in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Frank D. Lucas,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaLota).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am ready to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation from Mr. Thanedar and Mr. LaLota, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Williams for yielding and for his leadership on the Small Business Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of my bill, the bipartisan DOE and SBA Research Act.

The DOE and SBA Research Act would simply require the Small Business Administration and America's 17 national labs to collaborate to ensure that small businesses are better utilized within the Department of Energy procurement process.

The Department of Energy is one of the largest procurers of small business goods and services in the government. Through the DOE's national laboratories, small businesses can play a critical role in executing the DOE's mission.

My district, which is home to one of these laboratories, Brookhaven National Lab, which is leading the way by prioritizing working with small businesses, specifically BNL and Suffolk County small businesses have created a mutually beneficial relationship based upon cooperative research and technical assistance.

Despite good intentions throughout the Federal system, far too often small businesses have been made to endure tremendous frustrations related to Federal contracting because the Federal contracting process is incredibly complex and bureaucratic and plagued with many inconsistencies and nuances.

Some programs, such as the Small Business Innovation Research program, operate differently in each agency. This means a small business utilizing the same program may have to meet significantly different requirements from one agency to the next.

My bill, the DOE and SBA Research Act, seeks to remedy this problem.

A small business' work with the Federal Government can be a frustrating maze, and this bipartisan bill will help bring existing resources and opportunities to innovative and successful small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support the DOE and SBA Research Act.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4669, as amended.

This legislation would allow SBA and the Department of Energy to enter into an MOU to formalize the research and

development activities that are currently under way. Investments in R&D are critical to providing high-paying jobs for Americans, increasing small business innovation, and ensuring our country remains competitive.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. LaLota and Mr. Thanedar for their bipartisan work, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses produce more than 14 times more patents than large businesses and universities and employ nearly 40 percent of scientists and engineers. Enhancing coordination between the Small Business Administration and the Department of Energy will hopefully increase opportunities for small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsors for their work, and I yield back the balance of my time.