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S. 3971: Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act
119th Congress · introduced 2026-03-03 · Commerce · Latest: Became Public Law No: 119-83.
federal
Official title
Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act
Plain summary
Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act This act reauthorizes through FY2031 and modifies the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, and related pilot programs. (The SBIR and STTR programs are administered by various federal agencies and provide competitive awards for domestic small businesses to conduct research and development projects that have the potential for commercialization.) Specifically, the act expands the requirements for federal agencies administering these programs to evaluate the security risks of the small businesses that apply for awards under the programs. If an agency denies an application for security reasons, the agency must provide the small business with the basis for such determination. Further, each agency must set a maximum number of proposals per fiscal year that a small business concern may submit in response to Phase I and Phase II solicitations. The act expands the training requirements for agencies' contracting officers and acquisition workforce with respect to Phase III (commercialization of technologies) awards under the SBIR and STTR programs. The act also establishes strategic breakthrough allocations for critical technology areas. These are additional Phase II SBIR and STTR awards to small businesses that demonstrate an effective technology and receive matching funds.
Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
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Official text
Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act
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Officials and money
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] · 1 cosponsors
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Recorded votes
- House roll call 89 (2026): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S 3971 (2026-03-17): Passed
Words on this page, explained (1)
- Securities
- Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-119s3971.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/s>
Record fed-us-cong119-s3971 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills