Small Business Bill Could Further Restrict Funds for NIH Researchers

The CLS would like to take this opportunity to inform you of a bill currently working its way through Congress. The Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009, among many other things, seeks to increase the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program from 2.5% to 3.5% for any federal agency budget that provides more than $100 million for research—including the NIH.

The CLS is generally very supportive of the SBIR program. The program was established at the NIH (along with the Small Business Technology program) with the goal of helping to transform basic laboratory and patient-oriented research conducted by federally-funded academic scientists into commercial applications, by funding competitive grants to relatively small companies around the country. The CLS believes that the SBIR program is an important component of the NIH mission to advance public health through science.

However, increasing the SBIR set-aside from its current 2.5% level to 3.5% would adversely affect the ability of the NIH to support other important components of its portfolio at a time when the agency’s spending power is weak.

Last month, the CLS and nearly 100 other groups sent a letter opposing the provision to increase the set-aside. Signatories on the letter warn that the "mandatory increase in the SBIR allocation across agencies will necessarily result in funding cuts for the peer-reviewed research conducted by other organizations" through the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and others. Instead, the groups urge Congress to "increase funding for all research, thereby increasing the total investment in SBIR."

It is now your time to ACT! Call or write your Senators and ask them to tell Small Business Committee Chairwoman Mary Landrieu and Ranking Member Olympia Snowe to keep the set-aside at 2.5%. Rather than increasing support for one area of research at the expense of others, tell your Senators to increase funding for all research agencies, thereby increasing the total investment in SBIR.

Previous efforts to increase the small business set-aside have been defeated owing to concerns from scientists and their institutions. The small business advocates such as the Chamber of Commerce will be lobbying hard for passage of this measure, we must ensure our voices are heard.

The SBIR program is set to expire on July 31st, so time is of the essence. It takes just a few moments to make a big impact on Capitol Hill. To find and contact your elected Representative, enter your Zip Code in the box on the right of the screen. You’ll be transferred to a site where you will find a draft letter for your use. Add your email signature and the letter will automatically go to your elected officials.