U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison Introduces Bill to Strengthen Small Business Development
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) introduced the SBIR/STTR Application Assistance Act, which will encourage more small businesses to engage in research and development that supports American innovation, scientific achievement, and entrepreneurship.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer programs are U.S. federal funding programs that support small businesses participating in research and development, fueling innovation across the country. Since the SBIR program’s start in 1982, Minnesota small businesses have received more than $160 million in funding to start and grow their businesses, and Rep. Morrison’s bill will make it easier for small businesses to apply and make sure even more small businesses have access to these funds, especially small businesses that are owned and operated in underserved areas, such as rural communities. This bill will encourage more first-time applicants to apply for research and development grants and reduce the burden of the application process.
“We’ve seen great success with the SBIR/STTR programs, and we know these incredible programs can reach even more small business owners and help them to grow and innovate,” said U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison. “I’m introducing the SBIR/STTR Application Assistance Act to knock down barriers that may prevent small businesses from engaging in critical research and development.”
Read the full text of the bill HERE.
Rep. Morrison is a member of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business, and is the ranking member of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains.
During her first six months in office, Rep. Morrison has introduced multiple pieces of legislation to help support small businesses:
- Representative Morrison’s first bill was the bipartisan Rural Small Business Resilience Act, to improve disaster relief access to small businesses. It passed the House in January, making her the first Freshman Democrat to pass a bill.
- Rep. Morrison also introduced the bipartisan DOE and SBA Research Act to strengthen research and development opportunities for small businesses, which passed the House earlier this spring.
- Rep. Morrison has been fighting to protect small businesses from President Trump’s tariff war, including introducing legislation to exempt small businesses from reckless tariffs.
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