Bill would bar non-citizens from key SBA business loan programs
Passed one chamberH.R. 2966Latest action
Sponsor: Beth Van Duyne · Representative · TX
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: American Entrepreneurs First Act of 2025
119th Congress
Topics: Jobs & the economy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
The bill would restrict SBA 7(a) and Title V loans to U.S. citizens, nationals, and green card holders only.
50-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
This bill would require applicants for SBA 7(a) loans and Title V small business investment loans to submit their date of birth and certify they are a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident. All owners of an applying business would need to meet this requirement, and lawful permanent residents would need to provide an alien registration number. Refugees, asylum seekers, temporary visa holders, DACA recipients, and undocumented immigrants would be blocked from qualifying, even as partial business owners.
Who does it affect?
The bill affects small business owners who are not U.S. citizens or green card holders, including immigrants with legal temporary status, refugees, asylum seekers, and DACA recipients. It also affects banks and lenders that process these SBA loans.
Why does it matter?
Businesses with even one owner in a blocked immigration category would become entirely ineligible for these loans. Lenders would need to collect and verify additional citizenship and immigration documentation from all applicants.
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Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedApr 17, 2025
- House committee
- House vote
- SenateYou are here · Jun 9, 2025
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Recorded votes
Roll-call votes recorded since January 3, 2025.
House · · Roll call 156
As recorded
- Question
- On Passage
- Result:
- Passed
- 217
- Nay
- 190
- 0
- 25
Republicans 209 yes, 11 not voting · Democrats 8 yes, 190 no, 14 not voting
Official recordHow members voted
The official record lists how each member voted.Official record