Rep. Gillen Urges Speaker Johnson to Move Stalled Medical Research Funding to President's Desk

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY - Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04) urged Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to immediately sign bipartisan legislation reauthorizing critical medical research and small business funding after it passed in the House of Representatives on March 17th. The legislation requires Speaker Johnson's signature to be sent to the President and signed into law.

"It is vital that you sign this legislation, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent, and passed the House on March 17th with the overwhelming bipartisan support of a veto-proof majority, to ensure that lifesaving funding for innovative rare disease treatment can continue. With lives at stake, we cannot afford any further delay in reauthorizing these critical programs," said Rep. Gillen.

Earlier this year, Merrick resident Andrew Jedlicka contacted Rep. Gillen for help when a New York lab treating his son with a rare genetic disorder was set to close due to a lack of continued research funding. She immediately demanded that the House and Senate Small Business Committees reach a bipartisan agreement to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs that provide capital for businesses conducting cutting-edge, lifesaving medical research.

"After months of delay, on March 17th, I was proud to help pass the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act to reauthorize the SBIR/STTR programs through 2031. Now, weeks later, the bill still awaits your signature before it can be presented to the President. Every day that passes without a reauthorization of these programs threatens to end lifesaving treatment for Long Islanders and others across the country. To ensure lives are not needlessly put at risk, I urge you to immediately sign this legislation and send it to the President's desk to become law. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your swift action," concluded Rep. Gillen.

A full copy of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Speaker Johnson:

I urge you to immediately sign S.3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, and transmit it to the President to be signed into law.

It is vital that you sign this legislation, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent, and passed the House on March 17th with the overwhelming bipartisan support of a veto-proof majority, to ensure that lifesaving funding for innovative rare disease treatment can continue. With lives at stake, we cannot afford any further delay in reauthorizing these critical programs.

Families like the Jedlicka family from Merrick in New York's Fourth Congressional District, and others across the country, rely on the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs to provide capital for businesses conducting cutting-edge, lifesaving medical research. Investment in these programs provides an immense return to taxpayers, generating an estimated $22 to $33 return for every dollar invested. These programs strengthen our economy, while giving small businesses the resources they need to innovate.

Due to Congressional inaction, these programs lapsed on October 1, 2025. I have heard directly from Long Islanders who rely on this funding about the impact on their care if these programs are not swiftly reauthorized. Mr. Jedlicka's son, who receives treatment for a rare genetic disorder at a lab reliant on SBIR/STTR funding, would no longer be able to receive care. That is why I previously urged the House and Senate Small Business Committees to reach a bipartisan agreement as quickly as possible to reauthorize these programs and allow this work to continue.

After months of delay, on March 17th, I was proud to help pass the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act to reauthorize the SBIR/STTR programs through 2031. Now, weeks later, the bill still awaits your signature before it can be presented to the President. Every day that passes without a reauthorization of these programs threatens to end lifesaving treatment for Long Islanders and others across the country.

To ensure lives are not needlessly put at risk, I urge you to immediately sign this legislation and send it to the President's desk to become law. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your swift action.

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