Miami, FL — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, applauded NASA’s decision to invest more than $45 million in small businesses as part of NASA’s Small Business Investment Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research and development programs. The SBIR and STTR programs allow small firms the opportunity to develop technological solutions that fill the needs of federal agencies and help businesses commercialize their innovative products. NASA’s call for new technology stems from their charge to increase the amount of land astronauts on the moon in five years and to support their broader Moon to Mars exploration plans.

“Small businesses are the catalysts of innovation in our economy,” Rubio said. “I commend NASA for investing more than $45 million in small businesses and recognizing the limitless potential and capacity they have to support our national interests.”

“I am proud to see that in my home state of Florida, eight businesses were selected to foster NASA’s efforts,” Rubio continued. “The SBIR and STTR programs are critical in helping small businesses access federal research and development funding, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to strengthen these programs as we work to reauthorize the Small Business Act for the first time in nearly two decades.”

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May 15, 2019: Rubio Chairs Hearing on Reauthorizing the Small Business Administration's Innovation Programs