America’s Living Library Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7832
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, House Administration, and Energy and Commerce, 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
- 2026-05-22T08:08:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The America's Living Library Act (H.R. 7832) establishes a 10-year pilot program called the America's Living Library Project to collect new genomic data (DNA sequences) from species like animals, plants, fungi, and microbes in units of the National Park System. The goal is to create a publicly available database to support research, conservation, education, and public health.
Key Provisions
- Program Setup: Led by the Secretary of the Interior through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with a new or designated office to manage operations, hire staff, and form contracts or partnerships (including in-kind contributions from biotech companies, vetted for conflicts of interest).
- Activities:
- Collect, catalog, and sequence whole genomes from species in selected parks, following permits under laws like the Endangered Species Act (protects threatened wildlife), Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and others.
- Build a public database with long-read sequences, annotations (explanatory notes), and metadata, excluding personal info or sensitive locations to protect resources.
- Integrate with existing systems (e.g., taxonomic databases) and ensure long-term U.S.-based sample storage (no exports or transfers abroad).
- Prioritize "high-priority species" based on conservation needs, economic/cultural/ecological value, health relevance, or rarity.
- Park Selection: Select 5 initial National Park System units within 180 days (based on biology, feasibility, education potential, research value, diversity), then 20 more within 2 years; public notices required.
- Requirements:
- Use data standards for quality, interoperability (ability to share/use with other systems), and cybersecurity.
- Tribal consultations as required by law.
- Evaluate samples for pathogens; store high-risk materials securely.
- Timeline and Reporting:
- Implementation plan to Congress within 180 days (covers expansion, AI access for U.S. entities only, excluding foreign entities of concern).
- Preliminary report in 3 years (includes funding sustainability ideas like subscriptions).
- Final report upon program end.
- Funding: Authorizes ~$16.5M–$54M annually (FY2027–2031) for USGS oversight; plus funds for Smithsonian, USDA, and NIH storage/data.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new federal pilot program with dedicated funding and office; no direct amendments to prior laws but mandates compliance and coordination with environmental statutes (e.g., Endangered Species Act).
- Adds restrictions on sample handling (U.S.-only storage/processing) and data access (limits for foreign-controlled entities; expedited U.S.-only AI pathways).
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload and funding for USGS, National Park Service, USDA, Smithsonian, and NIH; fosters interagency collaboration and potential expansion to other federal lands (e.g., wildlife refuges).
- Citizens and Researchers: Provides free public genomic data for education, conservation, biotech/AI development (U.S.-focused), and health research; enhances park-based science outreach.
- Environment/Science: Boosts biodiversity monitoring, species preservation, and long-term repositories without harming ecosystems (via strict permitting).
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact but prohibits foreign entity involvement/control and sample exports, prioritizing U.S. security.
Main Stakeholders
- Federal Agencies: Dept. of Interior (USGS, NPS), Dept. of Agriculture, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, NIH National Center for Biotechnology Information.
- Parks and Tribes: National Park units; Indian Tribes (via consultations).
- Private Sector: U.S. biotech firms (in-kind support); researchers, universities, nonprofits (data access, partnerships).
- Public: Scientists, educators, conservationists benefiting from open data.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ensures adherence to wildlife protection laws and biosafety standards (e.g., NIST cybersecurity frameworks); repository agreements maintain federal ownership/control.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; aligns with federal land management authority.
- Political: Bipartisan (sponsors from both parties); promotes science innovation with safeguards against foreign influence, potentially setting precedent for genomic initiatives on public lands. Program sunsets in 10 years for evaluation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, House Administration, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, House Administration, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, House Administration, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, House Administration, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
- 2026-03-05: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- America’s Living Library Act — issued 2026-03-05 — PDF (20 pages)