Nydia Velázquez

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, we're prepared to accept the amendment, and I urge adoption of the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, I want to take the opportunity to thank the gentlewoman from West Virginia for her efforts to improve this bill. The amendment directs the SBIR advisory boards established under H.R. 5819 to include in their annual report to Congress the number and the dollar amount of SBIR awards made to small businesses and controlled by service-disabled veterans. This is valuable data that Congress should have. Moreover, the collection of this data is likely to encourage Federal agencies to redouble their efforts to publicize the SBIR programs to service-disabled veterans. I now would like to yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for any comments he might have.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. With that, I will accept the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for his amendment and his efforts to improve this bill. The amendment establishes a grant program for minority institution with the purpose of increasing the number of SBIR and STTR applications submitted by companies owned by minorities. The participation of women- owned and minority-owned companies in the SBIR program continues to be at unacceptably low levels. The Barrow amendment--along with the provisions of H.R. 5819, that reauthorize the FAST program--seeks to address this challenge. It does this by funding outreach efforts to encourage and support more applicants by companies owned by minorities. I now will yield to the gentleman from Ohio for any comments that he might have.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, I just simply want to say thank you to the gentlelady from Ohio for her sensitivity and commitment to our veterans at a time of war, and for working to perfect this legislation. I have no opposition to this amendment. I am prepared to accept the amendment. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot).

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, while not opposed to this amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time, and I accept the amendment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Yes, I will.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, I really thank the gentlewoman for her amendment and her efforts to improve this bill. The amendment requires Federal agencies to give priority to SBIR and STTR applications submitted by veterans. During a time when our country is at war, it is particularly appropriate to prioritize SBIR applications submitted by our veterans. And I support this amendment. I would like to yield to the gentleman from Missouri for any comments that he might have.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, we are prepared to accept the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I thank the gentlewoman from California for her amendment and her efforts to improve this bill. H.R. 5819 directs Federal agencies to establish initiatives by which agencies encourage partnerships between SBIR awardees and prime contractors, venture capital firms and larger businesses. The purpose of these partnerships is to help awardees progress toward phase III of the SBIR program. The amendment highlights the significant role that business incubators can play for small firms as they work to commercialize their research. It is completely appropriate for Federal agencies to acknowledge business incubators as valuable partners with SBIR awardees. I yield to the gentleman from Missouri for any comments he may have.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. We are prepared to accept the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Ehlers, I understand your concern. But I will say that at a time when we are facing an economic crisis in our country where so many small businesses have been impacted because of the lack of access to capital and the credit crunch, this is the time when this amendment makes sense. We are allowing for small businesses and SBIR companies across the country to have the ability to secure venture capital so they can continue to provide innovation and the new technologies that are so needed in our economy. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, I am prepared to accept the amendment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I yield to the gentleman from Missouri for an answer.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Missouri for his amendment and his efforts to improve the bill. Mr. Graves has been a leader in our committee on many issues, and I appreciate his efforts to improve this legislation. This amendment clarifies the availability of venture capital to small companies. It makes sure that we do not end up disqualifying any current participant in the SBIR program. Madam Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu).

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, while I am not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. We are going to accept the amendment and support the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from Arizona for her amendment and for her efforts to improve this bill. Small businesses awarded SBIR grants from the Federal Government should create jobs and pay appropriate and applicable taxes in the United States. This amendment will ensure this is the case. It is an important clarification for Federal agencies providing SBIR funds. I would yield to the gentleman from Ohio for any comments that he might have.