S 3971 United States Senate · 119th Congress

Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act

The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act amends the SBIR and STTR programs to enhance security reviews of small business concerns receiving federal research funding. It requires agencies to assess security risks related to foreign entities by checking against specific government lists, including those related to Chinese military-industrial complex companies. The bill creates a new "strategic breakthrough" funding mechanism for high-potential small businesses with specific requirements like prior awards and matching funds. It also reduces administrative burdens by setting limits on the number of proposals small businesses can submit and improves data collection about program awards. The bill extends the SBIR and STTR programs through fiscal year 2031.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Mar 3, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Engrossed in Senate → Enrolled Bill · 3 edits

MINOR

This diff reflects the conversion of S. 3971 from its Senate-engrossed format to the final enrolled bill format as prepared by the Government Publishing Office (GPO). The changes are entirely technical and formatting in nature: GPO metadata headers were added, section headings were capitalized, quotation marks were added around statutory text being inserted into existing law, and line breaks were reorganized. No substantive policy changes are present.

TECHNICAL

GPO (Government Publishing Office) conversion metadata was added at the top of the bill, including the enrolled bill designation '119 S 3971 ENR', the GPO Locator to USLM Converter version number, and public domain notice.

All section headings were converted to all-caps format (e.g., 'BOLSTERING RESEARCH SECURITY OF SBIR AND STTR AWARDS' instead of 'Bolstering research security of SBIR and STTR awards'), consistent with enrolled bill formatting conventions.

Quotation marks were added around all statutory text being inserted into existing law, which is standard for the enrolled bill format to distinguish new language from existing statutory text.

Floor votes · House Mar 17, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 13, 2026

Signed into law

Signed by President.

executive

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 345 - 41 (Roll no. 89).

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S752-756; text: CR S752-756)

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor