Senate Unanimously

• On March 3, 2026, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed S. 3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, reauthorizing the SBIR and STTR programs through September 30, 2031, after their expiration on September 30, 2025. • The bill, providing over $4 billion annually in non-dilutive R&D funding, introduces enhanced foreign due diligence, application limits, strategic breakthrough funding, and carryover of FY2026 funds. • This legislation safeguards U.S. technological leadership by prioritizing small innovative firms amid global competition.

• The U.S. Senate unanimously passed Sen. John Cornyn's (R-TX) End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act on March 20, 2026, requiring members of Congress to undergo standard TSA screening like other passengers. • The bill prohibits federal funds for expedited access at checkpoints, addressing perks that allow lawmakers to bypass lines amid a DHS funding shutdown affecting 120,000 employees without paychecks. • Cornyn stated, 'Members of Congress are getting an unfair perk... trust in Congress is at an all-time low,' emphasizing restoration of public trust as key impact.

• The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (S. 3971), extending the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs for five years. • SBIR and STTR provide critical federal funding helping small businesses translate research discoveries into commercial technologies, often in partnership with universities. • The bill now moves to the House for consideration, with the earliest possible vote expected after March 16, 2026.