SBIR/STTR Reauthorization: What Happened?

Just a month ago, the SBIR/STTR reauthorization legislation seemed poised for passage in the Senate, then something happened:  Amendments. 

One of the biggest controversies involved how to attach an amendment that would repeal the 1099 repeal provision; that controversy was solved when the 1099 repeal provision was introduced as stand-alone legislation, which ultimately passed.  It seemed at the time that removing the 1099 amendment from the SBIR/STTR legislation removed some of the urgency for moving SBIR/STTR along.  While the SBIR/STTR programs are certainly widely popular, the 1099 repeal provision had universal support.  And, had it been attached to the SBIR/STTR legislation, it might have been enough to push the SBIR/STTR legislation over the top, but that did not happen.  Some have begun pointing fingers concerning the Senate’s failure to pass this legislation, however, it is what it is. 

While the House is considering its version of the SBIR/STTR legislation, it seems highly unlikely that the Senate will take up this legislation again before the May 31 expiration date.  And as has happened four times since 2008, we expect these programs will be temporarily extended again, pushing the decision point further down the road.