WASHINGTON – The United States Senate today passed a temporary extension of certain programs and authorities important to the small businesses and the Small Business Administration (SBA), which includes the Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technical Transfer (STTR) programs. United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, made the following statement upon passage of the legislation, H.R. 366:

Sen. Landrieu said:

“In 2009 alone, the SBIR and STTR programs invested over $2 billion in innovative ideas from America’s entrepreneurs. These programs are some of the most successful partnerships between the public and private sectors. Our negotiations towards a long-term extension of these programs and many of the other programs that fall under the Small Business Act are ongoing. Preserving the integrity of each program as truly for small business is a top priority and we will continue to work with the organizations involved in the SBIR and STTR programs to make sure the program is not in jeopardy.”

The current extension of the Small Business Administration (SBA) programs is set to expire on January 31, 2011. Under the new extension, all SBA programs will operate through May 31, 2011. In Louisiana, over the lifetime of the SBIR and STTR programs, nearly 250 small, high-technology firms have received more than $56 million in funding.