Bill

H.R. 2966 (119th): American Entrepreneurs First Act

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.

house · Substantive

Rankings updated October 26, 2026, 11:44 AM ET · Votes through September 30, 2026
Exported candidates: 719 | Filings on file, by office: H: 5838 | P: 1467 | S: 1567. These counts include every filing for that office, so they are larger than the ranked list. One person can have more than one filing. Non-voting delegates are left out.

Official source

Summary

Recorded summary

The bill amends SBA 7(a) and 504 loan application requirements. Applications must include the applicant's date of birth and a certification that the applicant or all beneficial owners are U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents. The bill makes asylees, refugees, individuals issued visas to remain in the U.S., nonimmigrants, DACA recipients, and individuals without lawful status ineligible for these loans.

eligibility_restrictionimmigrationsba_loanssmall_businessunclear

Theological note: The bill raises issue relevance around how civil authority treats sojourners and the stranger within its gates, weighed against the duty of civil government to order public resources and enforce lawful immigration status. Scripture requires justice and mercy toward the vulnerable alongside lawful order, so the measure calls for careful review of its humanitarian and prudential effects rather than a final moral verdict.

Scoring

How this bill is scored

Debt and war Cloture and Tier 1 Procedural votes Scoring mechanics

Roll

Recorded votes

Roll 156 · 6-Jun-2025 10:15 AM · On Passage · Passed

Yea 217 · Nay 190 · Other 25

Yea

Nay

Other

All bills · Markdown