Bryn Mawr, PA, July 23, 2007 - In testimony today before the House Committee on Small Business, Clear Align’s President and CEO Angelique X. Irvin testified how small independent businesses, often run by women and minorities, are key drivers of innovation and economic growth in our nation and contribute more than $6 trillion to the United States economy. She expressed confidence in the likelihood of passage of House Bill H.R. 1873, which was authored by this Committee and the Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act. She also stressed the value of House Bill H.R. 2803 to establish the Angel Investment Program.

Irvin pointed out the disturbing trend of reduced spending on research and development in the United States, as she stated, “In the 1980’s, 50% of early research and development was partially funded by the U.S. government, and today this is down by half.” She discussed the demise of major corporations’ research and development labs and the dramatic reduction in engineering graduates in the United States.

Irvin stated that “60-80% of all new jobs today are created by small businesses, and I urge the nation’s leaders to recognize the vital role these businesses play in the United States economy.” She recommended reforms that would finance and nurture these small businesses and urged Congress to:

• Increase funding innovation in the form of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts
• Increase protection of Intellectual Property of Small Businesses
• Reduce health-care costs
• Increase federal spending on Women-Owned and 8(a) Small Disadvantaged businesses
• Support small business with increased SBA funding
• Enable financing for small companies, particularly women-run and minority-run bu sinesses.

Praising the willingness of Congress and the administration to address the difficult issues confronting small business today, Irvin said that it is important to recognize that virtually every segment of our country is dramatically influenced by small-business enterprises.

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About Clear Align

Clear Align designs, prototypes and manufactures custom imaging, sensing and fiber optic systems for defense, aerospace and commercial customers. Clear Align’s imaging expertise spans the UV, visible, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR portions of the spectrum, delivering both narrow and wide field-of-view systems. Fiber optic and sensing expertise includes optical integration for communications, remote sensing and targeting, as well as medical fiber optics. Clear Align is a certified WOSB, 8(a) SDB, and SB per the US SBA regulations.

More information about the company is available at the company’s website, www.clearalign.com, or by contacting:

Laura Hasen
laura.hasen@clearalign.com
484-956-0510 X21