The state Senate this week unanimously approved legislation introduced by Sen.

Bob Robbins,R-50th, that would prohibit government officials from seizing firearms from people who are legally permitted to possess them during emergencies or natural disasters."This is a victory for our basic rights as American citizens,"Robbins said. "This unanimous approval by the Senate of (the bill) plainly shows that we support and guarantee the rights of our citizens."Robbins said the need for the basic protection of the right to bear arms provided by his measure became apparent in the wake of Hurricane Katrina when New Orleans police officers confiscated firearms from its citizenry, including those who had valid firearms permits."It is very unsettling that police officers would be disarming law-abiding citizens at the very time when they could potentially need these weapons to protect their lives and their families,"he said.———U.S. Rep.

Jason Altmire, D-4th, held a hearing Wednesday to examine how Congress can strengthen the unique role small businesses play in advancing medical research.Altmire, chairman of the House of Representatives' Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, noted that in recent years, a growing number of medical research firms have taken root in Western Pennsylvania.This week's hearing focused on the crucial role the Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) program plays in providing funding to help small firms conduct medical research.Jo Anne Goodnight, the SBIRcoordinator for the National Institutes of Health, and a panel of small business owners testified about how SBIR funding could be improved to help small firms bring their medical breakthroughs to market."Small businesses engaged in medical research are playing a critical role in Western Pennsylvania's transformation from the Rust Belt to the Tech Belt," Altmire said."Not only are these firms helping to stimulate our region's economy, they are also developing medical breakthroughs that can improve quality of life for millions of Americans."We need to make sure that the SBIR is effectively directing capital to these firms throughout the research process, so that they have the resources needed to fully develop medical advances that can improve Americans' lives."Western Pennsylvania boasts some of the best medical research and development in the nation, Altmire said, and last year the state brought in nearly $75 million in SBIR grants.He said one of the challenges currently facing firms using SBIR funding is that they must attract private capital to manufacture and market their medical discoveries.This can result in a so-called "valley of death" period,Altmire said, a time when start-up capital has run out and there is nothing left to help commercialize small firms' breakthroughs."As Congress prepares to reauthorize the SBIR program,"he said, "we will continue to look for ways to ensure firms can access the capital they need to translate their advances in medical research into products that improve people's lives."He said Wednesday's hearing was part of his effort to facilitate Western Pennsylvanian's transformation from the Rust Belt into a Tech Belt.———U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, praised Monday's passage of legislation in the House of Representatives that seeks to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration Trust Fund.The measure would allow the fundto continue to collect and spend aviation revenue and issue new contracts for airport projects through June 30."This critical stopgap measure will not only guarantee job-stability to thousands of employees," English said, "but also ensure communities across the country are able to access the financial resources they need to continue to move forward with airport construction initiatives, like the runway extension project in Erie."