What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
American Entrepreneurs First Act This bill revises the application requirements for the Small Business Administration's 7(a) loan and 504 loan programs. Specifically, the bill requires applications for such loans to include (1) the applicant's date of birth; and (2) a certification that the applicant or all beneficial owners are citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents of the United States. The bill specifies that certain individuals are ineligible for such loans, including (1) asylees, (2) refugees, (3) individuals issued a visa to remain in the United States, (4) individuals legally classified as nonimmigrants, (5) individuals to whom deferred action has been granted pursuant to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and (6) individuals without lawful status under the immigration laws of the United States.
Vote Breakdown · How Congress voted on HR.2966
House
217-190
PASSED
Independents
217 yea
190 nay
⚠️ 12 members broke with party on this vote
Action Timeline
2025-06-09
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
2025-06-06
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-06-06
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 190 (Roll no. 156). (text: CR H2510-2511)
2025-06-06
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 190 (Roll no. 156).
2025-06-06
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
2025-06-06
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2966.
2025-06-06
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2483, H.R. 2931, H.R. 2966 and H.R. 2987. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2483 under a structured rule and for consideration of H.R. 2931, H.R. 2966, and H.R. 2987 under a closed rul
2025-06-06
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 458. (consideration: CR H2510-2515)
2025-06-03
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 458 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2483, H.R. 2931, H.R. 2966 and H.R. 2987. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2483 under a structured rule and for consideration
2025-05-21
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 83.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.2966 pass?
HR.2966 is still alive. Current stage: PASSED_ONE. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does HR.2966 do?
American Entrepreneurs First Act This bill revises the application requirements for the Small Business Administration's 7(a) loan and 504 loan programs. Specifically, the bill requires applications for such loans to include (1) the applicant's date of birth; and (2) a certification that the applicant or all beneficial owners are citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents of the United States. The bill specifies that certain individuals are ineligible for such loans, including (1) asylees, (2) refugees, (3) individuals issued a visa to remain in the United States, (4) individuals legall…
Who sponsored HR.2966?
HR.2966 was sponsored by Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas).
Who voted against HR.2966?
12 members broke with their party on this vote.
Full Bill Text
119 HR 2966 EH: American Entrepreneurs First Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2966 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to require an applicant for certain loans of the Administration to provide certain citizenship status documentation, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Entrepreneurs First Act of 2025 . 2. Requirements for citizenship status documentation for certain loan programs of the Small Business Administration (a) In general The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall ensure that any application for a loan submitted under section 7(a) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 636(a) ) or title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 ( 15 U.S.C. 695 et seq. ) includes the following information: (1) The date of birth for each individual applicant for such loan or for each individual owner of an applicant concern. (2) Certification that— (A) an individual applicant for such loan is a citizen of the United States, a national of the United States, or a lawful permanent resident of the United States; or (B) an applicant concern for such loan or a guarantor for such loan is 100 percent beneficially owned by individuals who are either citizens of the United States, nationals of the United States, or lawful permanent residents of the United States. (3) Certification that no direct or indirect owner of an applicant concern for such loan is an ineligible person. (4) Documentation of the alien registration number of any lawful permanent resident who is— (A) an individual applicant for such loan; or (B) an owner of an applicant concern. (b) Prohibition An applicant for a loan under section 7(a) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 636(a) ) or title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 ( 15 U.S.C. 695 et seq. ) is ineligible for such loan if— (1) the applicant submits the application for such loan after the date of the enactment of this Act and such application does not contain the information required under subsection (a); (2) in the case such applicant is an applicant concern, any direct or indirect owner of such applicant concern is an ineligible person; or (3) in the case such applicant is an individual applicant, such applicant is an ineligible person. (c) Ineligible person defined In this Act, the term ineligible person means— (1) an asylee; (2) a refugee; (3) an individual issued a visa to remain in the United States; (4) an alien classified as a nonimmigrant under any subparagraph of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15) ); (5) an alien to whom deferred action has been granted pursuant to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy announced by the Secretary of Homeland Security on June 15, 2012; or (6) an alien present in the United States without lawful status under the immigration laws (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a) )). Passed the House of Representatives June 6, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.
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