S.3971 — Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act
House Roll Call
S.3971
| Bill | S.3971 — Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act |
|---|---|
| Vote question | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass |
| Vote type | 2/3 Yea-And-Nay |
| Result | Passed |
| Totals | Yea 345 / Nay 41 / Present 0 / Not Voting 45 |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 153 | 40 | 0 | 24 |
| D | 192 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Research Brief
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
Bill Analysis
S. 3971 – Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (119th Congress)
S. 3971 amends the Small Business Act and related statutes to tighten national security, research integrity, and foreign influence controls within federal small business innovation programs, primarily the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
Core provisions and authorities
- Directs the Small Business Administration (SBA), in coordination with national security agencies, to establish uniform government‑wide due‑diligence standards for SBIR/STTR applicants and awardees, including screening for ties to “countries of concern” (e.g., China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, as defined in statute or by the executive branch).
- Requires agencies participating in SBIR/STTR (e.g., DoD, NIH, DOE, NSF) to implement these standards in their solicitations, award decisions, and post‑award monitoring.
- Authorizes agencies to deny, terminate, or claw back awards where undisclosed foreign affiliations, talent program participation, or high‑risk foreign ownership/control are identified.
- Mandates standardized disclosure forms for foreign funding, employment, affiliations, and intellectual property (IP) arrangements, and requires periodic updates from awardees.
- Expands information‑sharing authority among SBA, federal research agencies, and intelligence/national security entities to identify and respond to security risks, subject to privacy and procurement laws.
Programs and agencies affected
- SBIR and STTR programs across all participating agencies.
- SBA (lead for policy, coordination, and compliance oversight).
- Defense, intelligence, and civilian research agencies that issue SBIR/STTR awards.
Who benefits or is regulated
- Regulated: Small businesses seeking or holding SBIR/STTR awards face enhanced vetting, disclosure, and compliance obligations, especially those with foreign collaborations or investors.
- Beneficiaries: U.S. national security agencies and domestic innovation ecosystem, through reduced risk of IP diversion and foreign interference; compliant small firms benefit from clearer, uniform rules and a more secure program environment.
Timelines and implementation
- Requires SBA and participating agencies to issue implementing regulations and updated guidance on disclosures, risk criteria, and enforcement within specified months of enactment (generally within 6–12 months).
- Phased application to new solicitations and awards after regulations take effect, with ongoing reporting and enforcement thereafter.
Yea (345)
K
Ken Calvert
J
Jason Crow
S
Scott Franklin
J
John Garamendi
J
John Mannion
L
Lucy McBath
L
Lisa McClain
C
Christian Menefee
J
John Rutherford
D
David Schweikert
P
Pete Sessions
R
Rashida Tlaib
N
Nydia Velázquez
Nay (41)
Not Voting (45)
L
Lloyd Doggett
E
Eric Swalwell
D
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
