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119-hr-3239119th CongressWALLET

Research Advancing to Market Production for Innovators Act

Sponsored By: Representative Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

Introduced

Summary

Focuses federal small-business R&D programs on moving inventions to market. This bill would tighten commercialization tests in peer review, speed decision timelines, and give agencies new tools and staff to help awardees get products sold and patented.

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  • Small businesses and startups: Reviewers must judge commercialization likelihood and include at least one reviewer with commercialization expertise. Phase I recipients could use up to $6,500 for technical and business help and Phase II recipients up to $50,000, and awardees may use funds to join I‑Corps courses.
  • Federal agencies and program management: Agencies would have a 2025–2027 window to run awards under new rules and face caps on certain annual SBIR/STTR awards generally limited to 10 percent of program funds with a 30 percent limit for NIH and no cap for the Department of Defense. Agencies must name a Technology Commercialization Official to coordinate market pathways and report annually.
  • Patents and IP support: The bill would direct the Commerce Department and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to create a prioritized patent examination program for SBIR/STTR recipients and increase outreach on patent help and scam prevention.

This proposal would expand commercialization-focused assistance, reporting, and program flexibility to push more federally funded research toward market-ready products.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

More technical help for SBIR/STTR firms

If enacted, SBIR or STTR awardees would be able to choose their own technical and business help, not only agency vendors. You could use up to $6,500 per Phase I project and up to $50,000 per Phase II project. The agency could include these amounts in your award or add them to it. You could hire or train staff, get cybersecurity help, or pay to join an I-Corps teams course. I-Corps costs could be covered by I-Corps grants, these funds, your team, other sources, or any mix.

Faster reviews and patent help for SBIR/STTR

If enacted, SBIR and STTR peer reviews would be faster, with decisions due in 180 days. Reviews would also weigh the chance of commercialization and include at least one reviewer with commercialization experience. Each agency would name a Technology Commercialization Official to guide awardees, push ready projects to Phase III, and report yearly on progress and simpler applications. The SBA and the Patent Office would set up a prioritized patent review program for SBIR/STTR awardees and share pro se and scam‑prevention resources. Agencies would also publish a yearly commercialization impact report for firms with 50+ Phase II awards over the prior nine fiscal years.

Caps on some SBIR/STTR awards

If enacted, in fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027, most agencies could award no more than 10% of their SBIR/STTR funds under this specific authority. NIH could go up to 30%. The 10% limit would not apply to the Department of Defense. This could shrink the pool of these awards for small firms at most agencies in those years.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

PA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 5/7/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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