Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5763) to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to modify the criteria for loans for plant acquisition, construction, conversion or expansion, and for other purposes.

Madam 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.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 5763, the Main Street Parity Act.

I also thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Simon), my friend, for joining me in co-leading this bipartisan effort.

The SBA's 504 loan program is an important tool that helps small businesses obtain affordable financing for the acquisition of fixed assets, such as land, buildings, and heavy machinery.

To obtain a 504 loan, a small business owner must contribute 10 percent of the total project cost as a form of downpayment. However, if a small business is seeking financing to build something like a surgery center or a nursing home, the SBA imposes additional equity requirements because these properties are deemed limited purpose.

This initial equity injection was required because limited purpose properties were believed to be at a higher risk of default. Years of data show that this assumption is incorrect. In fact, many businesses facing these increased costs were at lower risk of default than

the broader 504 portfolio. It is time to bring parity to Main Street and remove the unnecessary lender barriers based on outdated assumptions.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5763, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 5763 allows small businesses on Main Street to have equal access to SBA 504 loans. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5764) to amend the Small Business Act to require small business development centers to assist small business concerns with the use of artificial intelligence, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam 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.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5764, the AI for Main Street Act, introduced by Representatives Alford and Scholten.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to streamline operations, reduce costs, and boost productivity for small businesses. For many small businesses across the country, adopting these tools remains out of reach because they lack the staff, the expertise, or the capital to do so.

Madam Speaker, the AI for Main Street Act helps address this challenge by directing the SBA's Small Business Development Centers, or SBDCs, to assist small businesses in developing AI technologies into their operations.

These centers operate in partnership with universities and community colleges across the country and are trusted advisers to local entrepreneurs.

This approach builds on work already underway. In September 2024, America's SBDCs, in partnership with Google, launched America's SBDC AI U, which provides hands-on AI training, clinics, and technical assistance to small businesses.

This bill builds on that effort by requiring the SBDC network to have a core duty to assist entrepreneurs nationwide in fighting AI in their businesses.

As artificial intelligence becomes a core driver of productivity and competitiveness, Main Street cannot be left behind. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5764, the AI for Main Street Act.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Alford).

Madam Speaker, H.R. 5764 will directly give small businesses the AI resources and tools for SBDCs across this country. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5788) to amend title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to require an annual portfolio risk analysis of loans guaranteed under such title, and for other purposes.

Madam 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.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5788, the 504 Program Risk Oversight Act introduced by Representatives Tran and Patronis.

This bipartisan piece of legislation would give Congress greater accountability and oversight of the SBA's 504 Loan Program by requiring the SBA to provide Congress and the public with annual, data-driven risk assessments of the 504 loan portfolio.

The 504 program is an incredibly important tool that helps small businesses obtain long-term, fixed-rate financing like the acquisition of fixed assets such as land, buildings, and heavy machinery.

In fiscal year 2025, the program supported $7.8 billion in loans to small businesses nationwide. Specifically, H.R. 5788 would require the SBA to provide Congress with annual reports on the health of the 504 loan portfolio.

This would include an analysis of any risk to the program broken down by multiple data points, including industry concentration, loan age, and gross dollar amount.

These reports would be made available to the public within 7 days of being provided to Congress. The transparency measures in this bill are particularly important in light of the House passage of my bill, H.R. 3174, the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act, which raised the loan limit for American manufacturers under the SBA's 7(a) and 504 loan programs to $10 million. I hope it will quickly move through the Senate and to President Trump's desk.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 5788 marks a critical step toward identifying and mitigating risks early, strengthening the long-term viability and affordability of the 504 loan program and ensuring continued support for American entrepreneurs.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5788, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Patronis).

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 5788 provides transparency to the SBA's 504 loan program, a key program that promotes job creation and small business growth.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5784) to amend the Small Business Act to help small business concerns critically evaluate artificial intelligence tools, and for other purposes.

Madam 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.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5784, the Artificial Intelligence Wisdom for Innovative Small Enterprises Act, the AI-WISE Act. This bipartisan bill is led by Representatives Scholten and Downing.

Artificial intelligence is changing how businesses operate in real time. While large corporations can afford expensive consultants and trial-and-error experimentation, many small businesses do not have the luxury to do that. For a small business owner like myself, every dollar matters. The AI-WISE Act helps bridge that gap.

This bill directs the SBA to provide clear, accessible, and practical guidance that helps small business owners understand artificial intelligence in straightforward terms. It focuses on helping entrepreneurs evaluate whether an artificial intelligence tool is useful for their specific business, where it may fall short, and whether it is truly worth the cost before they spend their money to get that.

Importantly, this bill does all of this without authorizing any new spending. It builds on existing programs, avoids picking winners and losers, and keeps the Federal Government focused on providing information, not mandates.

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan legislation and to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5784.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Downing).

Madam Speaker, we cannot leave Main Street behind in the adoption of AI. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, due to an official engagement, I was unable to vote on H.R. 2683, H.R. 6500, and H.R. 6504. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 13, YEA on Roll Call No. 14, and YEA on Roll Call No. 15.

Mr. Speaker, due to an official engagement, I was unable to vote on H.R. 2965, H.R. 4305, and H.R. 1005. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 310, YEA on Roll Call No. 311, and YEA on Roll Call No. 312.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 916, I call up the bill (H.R. 2965) to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to ensure that the small business regulatory budget for a small business concern in a fiscal year is not greater than zero, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2965, the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act of 2025, introduced by my friend, Beth Van Duyne, from the great State of Texas.

Throughout countless Democratic administrations, we have seen overregulation suffocate small businesses. The Biden-Harris administration alone imposed regulatory costs totaling $1.8 trillion on businesses in just 4 years.

The Committee on Small Business has heard testimony from hundreds of small business owners from across the country who repeatedly tell us that excessive regulation is stifling their operations and undermining their bottom line. To revitalize the American Dream, Big Government, one-size-fits-all mandates must stop.

The Trump administration fully recognizes this challenge and is taking aggressive acts to give small businesses the relief they deserve. In just the first 6 months of President Trump's second term, Republicans have worked to put an end to burdensome regulations through CRAs and carry out a deregulatory agenda.

We are responsible for $86 billion in reduced regulatory costs and over 50 million hours of reduced paperwork burdens. That is why I am proud to support this bill which would advance

President Trump's executive order, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation.

This straightforward bill would require the SBA to operate under a regulatory budget of zero, meaning that for each new regulation imposed, a costly or outdated regulation must be repealed.

This bill would also require the SBA to provide annual reports on the true cost to small businesses imposed by government regulations. This seemingly simple requirement would have a major impact by bringing transparency to Federal regulatory actions each year and the true burden of those actions.

The transparency measures in this bill are critical to expose the harmful actions taken by bureaucrats behind closed doors and to highlight the harm done to hardworking small and family-owned businesses across the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2965, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Alford).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Schmidt).

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2965 will make sure that the cost of new SBA rulemakings is at zero to ensure that only necessary regulations are in place. We must support Main Street, starting with our work here in D.C.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 916, I call up the bill (H.R. 4305) to direct the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration to establish a Red Tape Hotline to receive notifications of burdensome agency rules, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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 under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4305, the DUMP Red Tape Act, introduced by Representative Wied from the great State of Wisconsin.

Mr. Speaker, entrepreneurs across America are driving our economic growth, but too often they are forced to fight through layers of red tape just to keep their doors open. Every day, small businesses deal with outdated, duplicative, or unclear regulations that make it harder for them to hire, grow, and innovate.

Since 1976, the SBA Office of Advocacy has served as a voice for small businesses across the country. The Office of Advocacy works to encourage small business success through the government's legislative, regulatory, and administrative process. When it comes to regulatory costs, Office of Advocacy is equipped to represent the interests of small businesses at the Federal level.

To make this easier, Office of Advocacy launched the Red Tape Hotline, a necessary resource that gives small businesses a direct, real-time way to report burdensome regulations that are holding them back.

The Red Tape Hotline empowers small business owners to speak up and help Office of Advocacy hold Federal agencies accountable for the red tape that is crushing their day-to-day operations.

The Red Tape Hotline was created by following President Trump's executive order, ``Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation.'' The DUMP Red Tape Act codifies the executive order and ensures that small businesses always have a reliable channel to be heard.

This bill strengthens Office of Advocacy's ability to deliver small business concerns directly to Congress, ensuring that we have the real- world data which we need to push for smarter, more effective regulatory policies.

While the public can submit comments to proposed rules, this Red Tape Hotline provides small businesses the opportunity to provide feedback on the true burden of compliance with active regulations.

This bill also requires Office of Advocacy to submit an annual report to Congress summarizing the notifications received through the hotline. By strengthening and formalizing this process, Congress will receive a clear picture of how Federal regulations affect different types of businesses nationwide. This will help ensure that Congress is acting on accurate, real-world information.

Some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle may argue that the hotline improperly focuses on burdensome regulations rather than collecting positive feedback, but it is simple: The purposes of this tool is to identify obstacles that need attention, and regulations that function well do not require intervention.

Small businesses are not asking us to preserve the status quo. They are asking to eliminate the barriers that prevent them from thriving. By isolating problematic rules, we empower Congress and Federal agencies to focus time and resources where they are needed most, while still preserving the regulations that work.

The DUMP Red Tape Act strengthens our commitment to a pro-job, pro- innovation economy by ensuring that Federal agencies remain accountable and responsive to the needs of Main Street.

Mr. Speaker, with that in mind, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4305, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Wied).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Schmidt).

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

Mr. Speaker, despite what my colleagues say, there is no hotline that exists exclusively for small businesses. H.R. 4305 will fix that problem. It will provide an avenue for small businesses to engage with the SBA Office of Advocacy, a voice that is focused on advocating for Main Street.

This bill passed out of the committee on a bipartisan basis, and as chairman, I am committed to getting our Members the information they need to support Main Street.

Ultimately, this information will come as an annual report to Congress upon enactment, but for now, we will continue to work with the Office of Advocacy to understand concerns from small businesses across the country.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3174) to increase loan limits for loans made to small manufacturers, 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 in strong support of my bill, H.R. 3174, the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act.

The ability to manufacture in the United States is vital to our country's economic and national security. However, for decades, America's policies have shipped good-paying manufacturing jobs overseas and opened the door for foreign adversaries to fill the void. We must reverse this trend which would require more than just luck.

That is why the Trump administration has been championing progrowth and pro-American policies that are fueling a domestic manufacturing comeback. Now, Congress can do its job to reverse the trend and support the revitalization of American manufacturing.

Small American manufacturers account for 98 percent of U.S. manufacturing companies. Like all small businesses, access to capital, or the appropriate amount of capital, is challenging. H.R. 3174 gives small American manufacturers access to capital at a level they need to start or grow their operations.

This legislation increases the loan limit for small American manufacturers under the SBA's 7(a) and 504 lending programs from $5 million to $10 million.

This will provide American manufacturing the capital they need to invest in new technology, hire, grow, and create onshore jobs that we have carelessly lost overseas.

H.R. 3174 is essential to keep pace with demand for capital and bring jobs back to the U.S. Two weeks ago, the Committee on Small Business heard testimony from the industry and other manufacturing stakeholders about the importance of this bill for small manufacturers across the country looking to grow and reshore their businesses.

It is often the case that when Congress passes a bill to support an industry, it will come at a cost to taxpayers. This is not the case with H.R. 3174 because the SBA's 7(a) and 504 loan programs operate under zero subsidy, meaning zero cost to the taxpayer. The Congressional Budget Office's review found that any costs would be insignificant in this area.

H.R. 3174 presents Congress with the critical opportunity to usher in the golden age of American manufacturing.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3174, to support made in America, small businesses, and the revitalization of the American manufacturing base.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3174 that supports American manufacturing, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4491) to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to implement certain recommendations relating to information technology modernization, and for other purposes.

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. 4491, the SBA IT Modernization Reporting Act, introduced by Representative Cisneros from the great State of California and Representative Jack from the great State of Georgia.

The SBA is charged with certifying small businesses to participate in certain government contract opportunities.

Last year, the Biden-Harris SBA sought to implement a new certification portal. Unfortunately, this portal's lackluster planning, creation, and rollout left the SBA with a ticking time bomb.

The Biden administration's failed Unified Certification Portal rollout resulted in delays, errors, and cybersecurity risks, shutting out small businesses from vital government contracting opportunities.

While this committee shared bipartisan concerns with the Biden-Harris SBA over its rollout plan, or lack thereof, former Administrator Guzman failed to listen, and the results were damaging. Small businesses were delayed for months, sometimes longer, to get approval from the SBA to compete for governmental contracts.

To make matters worse, the SBA allowed small businesses to use the new portal without conducting minimum cyber threat assessments. Entrepreneurs didn't just face delays, but their sensitive personal and business information was put at risk of cybercrime.

The SBA IT Modernization Reporting Act ensures that this will not happen at the SBA again. This bill requires the SBA to implement the GAO's recommendations to establish stronger safeguards and improve oversight of IT initiatives so small businesses can rely on an efficient contract certification system.

Small businesses should not be held back by government mismanagement. This bipartisan, commonsense bill restores accountability and helps Main Street focus on what it does best--innovate.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to protect both the SBA and small businesses alike. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and

pass the bill (H.R. 4495) to extend the statute of limitations for fraud under certain pandemic programs, and for other purposes.

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 in support of H.R. 4495, the SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act, a companion piece of legislation to S. 1199, introduced by Senator Ernst.

H.R. 4495 is bipartisan legislation introduced by the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Downing) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Conaway).

For 4 years, the Biden administration's SBA failed to address over $200 billion in COVID-19 era fraud. H.R. 4495 extends the soon-to- expire statute of limitations for two pandemic-era relief programs: The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The statute of limitations for these programs is set to expire this December.

These two programs combined provided over $44 billion in grants and funding for small businesses during the pandemic. Unfortunately, fraudsters stole COVID relief funds from small businesses across the country. These fraudsters hope that the statute of limitations for their crimes will pass, allowing them to skirt justice.

As Congress, we cannot let this happen. American taxpayer dollars should be protected at all costs.

In the 117th Congress, we took similar action to extend the statute of limitations under the Paycheck Protection Program and the COVID EIDL program. Today, we have the chance to close this final loophole so that fraudsters do not get away with defrauding American taxpayers and entrepreneurs.

This legislation sends a clear message that the era of taking advantage of the American taxpayer is simply over.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4495, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from the great State of Montana (Mr. Downing).

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation. We cannot let fraudsters get away with American taxpayer dollars.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4549) to amend the Small Business Act to clarify the responsibilities of the Office of Rural Affairs of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.

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 in support of H.R. 4549, the Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act.

This bill was introduced by Representative Goodlander from the great State of New Hampshire, Representative Wied from the great State of Wisconsin, and Representative Golden from the great State of Maine.

Mr. Speaker, 46 million Americans live in rural communities. The small businesses of rural America face distinct and persistent challenges, such as a shortage of business assistance resources and limited access to capital. These challenges often hinder their growth and sustainability.

The SBA Office of Rural Affairs was created to serve our rural entrepreneurs. However, it is often underutilized and thus ineffective. This bill addresses these challenges by clarifying the critical responsibilities of the Office of Rural Affairs and qualifications for leadership to prioritize the rural communities.

This bill ensures that the office will be utilized to reach rural entrepreneurs anywhere they are in Main Street America. These efforts will strengthen local networks and equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and support necessary for long-term growth.

H.R. 4549 is about investing in the future of rural America, creating jobs, and ensuring resources reach all businesses across America. I thank Representatives Goodlander, Wied, and Golden for introducing this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4549, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to support rural small businesses, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2066) to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to exclude from the limit on leverage certain amounts invested in smaller enterprises located in rural or low-income areas and small businesses in critical technology areas, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 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. 2066, the Investing in All of America Act of 2025, introduced by Representative Meuser from the great State of Pennsylvania and Representative Scholten from the great State of Michigan.

One of the most significant barriers to economic growth across America is the lack of access to capital for small businesses, including investment opportunities. While some regions and industries are flush with investment, too many small businesses struggle to attract investment capital that they would need to help them to grow.

The Investing in All of America Act strengthens one of the most effective public-private partnerships the SBA has to offer: the Small Business Investment Company, or SBIC, program. This program has a proven track record of turning promising small businesses into household names, all without spending any taxpayer dollars.

By unleashing nearly $20 billion in private capital, this bipartisan bill would expand opportunities for small manufacturers, rural communities, and businesses critical to our national security. It means more jobs, greater innovation, and a stronger economy.

This commonsense solution rewards hard work and fuels private investment into small businesses across America without new spending or more red tape.

I ask my colleagues to support this bill for Main Street America, driving capital back into the hands of small business owners where it belongs.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to increase access to capital for America's small businesses. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, today, I recognize Dale Petroskey for his outstanding leadership and dedicated service as President and CEO of the Dallas Regional Chamber. Under his guidance, the Chamber has helped make North Texas one of the most dynamic and business-friendly regions in

America. Dale has also been a great friend, we've shared many conversations about leadership, community, and our love of baseball. I congratulate him on his remarkable tenure and thank him for representing the very best of Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5100) to extend the SBIR and STTR programs, and for other purposes.

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 my bill, H.R. 5100. This bill extends two programs critical for American innovation, the Small Business Innovation Research, SBIR, and the Small Business Technology Transfer, STTR, programs, for 1 year.

I thank my colleagues, Ranking Member Velazquez and Chairman Babin and Ranking Member Lofgren of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for cosponsoring this bipartisan legislation.

Since the 1980s, the SBIR and the STTR programs have fueled American innovation by providing early-stage funding to small businesses. These investments have led to groundbreaking technologies that grow our economy and strengthen our national defense.

SBIR and STTR programs have been regularly reauthorized by Congress to include many reforms to drive small business. However, the programs will expire at the end of this month, on September 30, just 15 days away.

As my colleagues and I continue to work toward the goal of a long- term reauthorization, one thing has become clear: Time is working against us. We cannot allow these critical programs to expire. Failing to extend these programs would be a disservice to small businesses across the country. Put simply, American innovators cannot operate in uncertainty, and national security cannot afford an innovation gap.

As chairman of the Small Business Committee, I am committed to ensuring these programs remain strong and uninterrupted. H.R. 5100 will allow Congress the additional time to work toward a meaningful long- term and bipartisan reauthorization while also ensuring that small businesses can continue to do what they do best, and that is innovate.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues in the House again for joining me in reintroducing this legislation. Their partnership shows the SBIR and the STTR programs' strong bipartisan support and our shared commitment to keeping America at the forefront of discovery.

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense extension, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), my good friend and the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Velazquez, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to continue uplifting small business innovation across America.

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