the sba plays a critical role in coordinating sbir across the whole government. i would be interested in what your priorities would be and if you would help work with us on reauthorization, ensuring that it is not just fund endless research but actually funds alien to the marketplace. ms. loeffler: i think small business innovation research grants are critical to solving some of the challenges america has. the program gives more dry powder and runway to these important technological breakthroughs in the area of bio science technology, ai, drones, critical things for our national defense that would not be possible without the support of research institutions. i look forward to collaborating with this entire committee on the reauthorization and reviewing the program where it can be strengthened to produce more efficient results and to highlighting some of the winds -- the devon and ashley wi -- the wins to make sure these are powerful returns on investment. senator coons: another thing up and concerned about is the amount of federal contracting money that goes to s

overall massachusetts has received 26,000 sbir and sbir grants to $9 billion in funding. i believe in these programs and their potential for supercharging our economy, as is programs have in massachusetts and states all across the country. you mention sbir should be awarded on a merit basis. i agree wholeheartedly, that marriage drives innovation. will you commit to working with me and the committee to ensuring that any sbir, sbt are, reauthorization efforts maintains a merit-based process and does not limit innovation? >> absolutely, ranking member markey. if i had on her become from i look forward to working with you and i know we have a lot of common ground in support of small businesses particularly the sbir. from those watching of the small business innovation research programs that allows the united states to be at the forefront of technological, , biomedical and other types of national security related technology, research and innovation, it's so important to this country. thank you. >> thank you madam chair. >> i now yield five minutes to myself. i'm so pleased to

. >> i wanted to mention the importance of sbir as a way to support and encourage small companies but apparently there is a false. you understand the importance that like to know the others agree. >> they should thousands a year. it's done incredible things for the american industrial base can take this information so i'll start with you. i serve as chair this on a bill to reform. ... we talk about mobilizing america. when we picked it up it was not perfect it was a tour we had and thanks to the help here on capitol hill it's been better year after year. i think there are three important things we need to do in the program. i think expanding the number of companies you can get in, the venture capitalist camp picked easily but it's a venue the conversation about how we bring in many companies for the conversation this is a venue for the conversation. more fdi are is with the lower dollar amounts but we need to be very deliberate about scaling and scaling quickly the best companies. we need to be better to judicious reviewers out which companies to scale and building things like that st

and when i met with you, you mentioned that sbir awards should be award on a merit basis and i agreely that merit drives innovation, so will you commit to working with me and the committee to ensuring that any sbir, sttr, reauthorization effort maintains a merit-base process and does not limit innovation? >> absolutely, ranking member merky, if i have the honor of being confirmed i will look forward working with you and i know that we have a lot of common ground in support of small businesses particularly sbrir, allows the united states to be at the forefront of technological biomedical and other national security related technology and researching innovation that's so important to the country. thank you. >> thanky, you. >> i now yield 5 minutes to myself and i'm so pleased senator to have you with us. we will call you senator at least for now. when you came into my office i really appreciated the connection we've made about small businesses in our own lives and in your family's lives and like many of the members here, we can all identify with the statistics in our states. i don't th

. >> i wanted to mention the importance of sbir as a way to support and encourage small companies but apparently there is a false. you understand the importance that like to know the others agree. >> they should thousands a year. it's done incredible things for the american industrial base can take this information so i'll start with you. i serve as chair this on a bill to reform. ... we talk about mobilizing america. when we picked it up it was not perfect it was a tour we had and thanks to the help here on capitol hill it's been better year after year. i think there are three important things we need to do in the program. i think expanding the number of companies you can get in, the venture capitalist camp picked easily but it's a venue the conversation about how we bring in many companies for the conversation this is a venue for the conversation. more fdi are is with the lower dollar amounts but we need to be very deliberate about scaling and scaling quickly the best companies. we need to be better to judicious reviewers out which companies to scale and building things like that st