National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2756
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:08:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025 aims to create a coordinated federal effort to boost U.S. leadership in biotechnology. It focuses on improving national security, economic growth, and global competitiveness by advancing research, innovation, and practical applications in areas like health, agriculture, defense, and energy.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the National Biotechnology Initiative: The President must implement this program through the Executive Office of the President. It involves 14 specified federal agencies (e.g., Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services) plus others as needed. Agencies must address biotechnology in their work, including creating a national strategy, supporting research, managing data, streamlining regulations, ensuring safety, building workforce skills, promoting public understanding (bioliteracy), and fostering international ties.
- Interagency Committee: Within 180 days of enactment, the President designates a committee of assistant secretary-level representatives from participating agencies. It oversees planning, coordination, and agency support for the Initiative, with three co-chairs (one is the NBCO Director; the others rotate every 2-3 years to stagger terms).
- National Biotechnology Coordination Office (NBCO): Established in the Executive Office of the President within 180 days, led by a presidentially appointed Director who advises on biotechnology policy. The Office handles coordination, national security assessments, research funding ideas, data standards, commercialization strategies, regulatory improvements, safety measures, workforce plans, public education, and international diplomacy. It can hire staff, enter contracts, and use other agencies' resources. Administrative support comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF), with appropriations authorized: $22 million (FY2026), $35 million (FY2027), and $25 million annually (FY2028-2030). After 20 years, the Office winds down into a secretariat role, transferring functions to the Committee.
- Website and Reporting: Within 540 days, a single federal website launches with dashboards on activities/funding, plain-language info, stakeholder question mechanisms, and regulatory resources (e.g., pathways for multi-agency products). Annual reports to Congress detail activities and spending (except strategy years). A comprehensive national strategy, covering goals, priorities, budgets, data assessments, competitiveness, and recommendations, is due within 2 years and every 5 years thereafter.
- Agency Responsibilities: Each participating agency must designate leaders, coordinate internally, support research/data/commercialization, ease regulations for familiar biotech products (e.g., those mimicking natural ones), address security risks, develop workforce programs, and engage internationally (e.g., standards, data-sharing).
- Expert Convening and Oversight: The NBCO Director can gather experts (exempt from Federal Advisory Committee Act rules). The Comptroller General reviews coordination effectiveness, briefs Congress at 3.5 years, reports recommendations at 4 years, and repeats every 5 years for 20 years.
- Definitions: Key terms include biotechnology (using science/engineering with living organisms or their parts), biomanufacturing (biotech in production), biological data (info from biological systems), and bioliteracy (public understanding of biology/biotech).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new, centralized framework for biotechnology coordination, which did not previously exist at this scale. It creates the NBCO and Interagency Committee to reduce overlaps and gaps in federal efforts. New elements include mandatory national strategies, regulatory pathway agreements (with Office of Management and Budget intervention if needed), a unified website, and specific biotech focuses in agency missions. It builds on existing programs (e.g., Small Business Innovation Research) but adds biotech-specific mandates, like joint funding solicitations and biosecurity frameworks. After 20 years, it shifts to a lighter coordination model, a novel sunset provision.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances interagency collaboration, potentially cutting duplication and improving efficiency in biotech-related spending and regulations. Agencies gain new duties (e.g., threat assessments, workforce training) but also tools like shared data hubs and testbeds for scaling innovations.
- Citizens: Could accelerate biotech benefits in everyday life, such as improved health treatments, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protections. Workforce development may create jobs in biotech fields, while bioliteracy efforts aim to build public trust and awareness. Risks include better-managed biosafety to prevent threats.
- International Relations: Strengthens U.S. diplomacy through partnerships, standards alignment, and data-sharing with allies, while countering adversarial threats (e.g., foreign investments). This may improve market access for U.S. products and global norms on biotech ethics/safety, boosting competitiveness against peers like China.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primary participants (e.g., Defense for security, Health and Human Services for health data, Agriculture for food biotech) must integrate biotech into operations.
- Private Sector: Biotech firms, startups, and manufacturers benefit from commercialization support, regulatory clarity, testbeds, and funding incentives, but face new security scrutiny.
- Academia and Workforce: Universities, researchers, students, and workers gain from training, fellowships, and research grants; veterans and professionals get reskilling opportunities.
- Public and Policymakers: Citizens receive clearer info and input channels; Congress gets reports for oversight.
- International Partners: Allies and trading nations engage in diplomacy, standards, and exchanges, while adversaries face U.S. countermeasures on investments/data.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Grants the NBCO broad authorities (e.g., advising on budgets, coordinating regulations) while emphasizing privacy/security in data handling. It promotes "clear regulatory pathways" via interagency pacts and short-term trials, potentially simplifying approvals without new laws. Exempts expert convenings from advisory committee rules to speed input, and allows uncompensated services despite some federal limits.
- Constitutional: Aligns with executive coordination powers under Article II, focusing on policy implementation without infringing on congressional authority (e.g., reports to committees). No direct challenges noted, as it avoids mandating spending beyond authorizations.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (Republican and Democrat sponsors) signals broad support for innovation/security. It balances advancement (e.g., R&D, commercialization) with safeguards (biosecurity, ethics), potentially reducing partisan divides on science policy. The 20-year timeline encourages long-term commitment while allowing adaptation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Cosponsors (23)
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7], Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-09: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (40 pages)