Congress passed a five‑year reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR programs, restoring federal seed funding that many small biotech firms rely on to reach commercialization milestones. The House approved the measure 345–41 following unanimous Senate support, and BIO praised the move as critical for sustaining innovation and early‑stage company growth. The reauthorization clears the way for agencies, including NIH, to reopen solicitations for small business grants; BIO’s Brad Zakes noted these programs have supported commercial development of a significant share of FDA‑approved drugs and are essential for keeping U.S. biotech competitive.