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 economic security safeguards around federal small business research and technology programs, especially the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
Core provisions:
- Foreign risk and security vetting: Requires participating agencies (e.g., DoD, NIH, NSF, DOE, NASA) to implement standardized due‑diligence and risk‑based screening of SBIR/STTR applicants and awardees for ties to “countries of concern” (e.g., China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, as designated). Mandates disclosure of foreign affiliations, talent programs, and financial interests by key personnel and owners.
- Ineligibility and enforcement: Bars awards to firms or individuals with disqualifying foreign relationships or undisclosed conflicts. Establishes procedures for suspension, termination, and clawback of awards if security or disclosure violations are found. Authorizes civil remedies and potential referral for criminal enforcement under existing law.
- Data sharing and coordination: Directs SBA to create a centralized risk‑assessment and information‑sharing framework across SBIR/STTR agencies, including common disclosure forms, red‑flag indicators, and access to intelligence or law‑enforcement information as appropriate.
- Guidance and rulemaking: Requires SBA, in consultation with national security agencies, to issue implementing guidance and regulations on foreign risk review, disclosure standards, and compliance processes. Agencies must update solicitations, award terms, and monitoring practices accordingly.
- Reporting and oversight: Mandates periodic reports to Congress on implementation, identified risks, enforcement actions, and any impact on small business participation and innovation. Encourages GAO or inspector general reviews of program integrity and security outcomes.
Affected entities:
- Beneficiaries: U.S. small businesses seeking SBIR/STTR and related innovation funding, which gain clearer rules but face stricter vetting.
- Regulated/impacted: Federal SBIR/STTR agencies, SBA (as coordinator), research institutions collaborating with small businesses, and individuals with foreign affiliations.
Key timelines are set by statutory deadlines for SBA guidance and agency implementation (typically within 6–18 months of enactment), followed by ongoing reporting and oversight cycles.
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
