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.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2966 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2966
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 17, 2025
Ms. Van Duyne (for herself and Mr. Cloud) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Entrepreneurs First Act''.
SEC. 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))).
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 11.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 119-112.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 119-112.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 83.
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 of H.R. 2931, H.R. 2966, and H.R. 2987 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 458. (consideration: CR H2510-2515)
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 rule. The resolution provides for one hour of debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2966.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 190 (Roll no. 156).
Roll Call #156 (House)On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 190 (Roll no. 156). (text: CR H2510-2511)
Roll Call #156 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.