119-hr2756

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2756 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 2756

 To authorize the National Biotechnology Initiative, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 April 9, 2025

 Mrs. Bice (for herself and Mr. Khanna) introduced the following bill; 
which was 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

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To authorize the National Biotechnology Initiative, and for other 
 purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``National Biotechnology Initiative 
Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Bioliteracy.--The term ``bioliteracy'' refers to the 
 concept of imbuing people, personnel, or teams with an 
 understanding of and ability to engage with biology and 
 biotechnology.

    (2) Biological data.--The term ``biological data'' means 
 the information, including associated descriptors, derived from 
 the structure, function, or process of a biological system

    (s) that is either measured, collected, or aggregated for analysis.

    (3) Biomanufacturing.--The term ``biomanufacturing'' means 
 the application of biotechnology to manufacturing.

    (4) Biotechnology.--The term ``biotechnology'' means the 
 application of science and engineering in the direct or 
 indirect use of living organisms, or parts or products of 
 living organisms, including modified forms.

    (5) Director of the national biotechnology coordination 
 office.--The term ``Director of the National Biotechnology 
 Coordination Office'' means the individual appointed pursuant 
 to 

section 4

    (b)

    (2)
        (A) .

    (6) Initiative.--The term ``Initiative'' means the National 
 Biotechnology Initiative established under 

section 3.

    (7) Interagency committee.--The term ``Interagency 
 Committee'' means the interagency committee designated pursuant 
 to 

section 10403

    (a)

    (1) .

    (8) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the National 
 Biotechnology Coordination Office established under 

section 4

    (b) .

    (9) Participating agency.--The term ``participating 
 agency'' means a department, office, or agency set forth under 
 

section 3

    (b) .

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF THE NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE.

    (a) Initiative Required.--

    (1) In general.--The President, acting through the 
 Executive Office of the President, shall implement an 
 initiative to advance national security, economic productivity, 
 and competitiveness through advancement and coordination of 
 Federal activities relating to biotechnology.

    (2) Designation.--The initiative implemented pursuant to 
 paragraph

    (1) shall be known as the ``National Biotechnology 
 Initiative''.

    (b) Participating Agencies.--The following shall be participants in 
the Initiative:

    (1) The Department of Agriculture.

    (2) The Department of Commerce.

    (3) The Department of Defense.

    (4) The Department of Energy.

    (5) The Department of Health and Human Services.

    (6) The Department of Homeland Security.

    (7) The Department of the Interior.

    (8) The Department of State.

    (9) The Environmental Protection Agency.

    (10) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

    (11) The National Science Foundation.

    (12) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

    (13) The Office of the United States Trade Representative.

    (14) Such other Federal departments and agencies as the 
 Director of the National Biotechnology Coordination Office 
 considers appropriate.
            (c) Activities.--Each head of a participating agency shall carry 
out the Initiative, including by carrying out the activities required 
by 

section 6 and by addressing and coordinating the following:

    (1) Federal activities relating to biotechnology, including 
 to create and maintain a national strategy on biotechnology.

    (2) National security implications of emerging 
 biotechnology.

    (3) Sustained support for research and development that 
 accelerates scientific understanding and technological 
 innovation in biotechnology.

    (4) Sustained support for biological data, databases, and 
 related tools as a strategic national resource.

    (5) Private sector translation and commercialization of 
 products that are produced with biotechnology.

    (6) Regulatory streamlining for products that are produced 
 with biotechnology.

    (7) Biosafety and biosecurity issues associated with 
 emerging biotechnology.

    (8) Development of a domestic workforce, including the 
 Federal workforce, to advance biotechnology across the United 
 States.

    (9) Bioliteracy activities that provide clear, easy-to-find 
 information for policymakers, innovators, and the public.

    (10) International partnerships, including regulatory and 
 commercial diplomacy.

    (11) Such other activities relating to biotechnology as the 
 Director of the National Biotechnology Coordination Office and 
 the Interagency Committee jointly determine are needed to 
 advance national security, economic productivity, and 
 competitiveness relating to biotechnology.

SEC. 4. INITIATIVE COORDINATION.

    (a) Interagency Committee.--

    (1) Designation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act, the President shall, acting through 
 the Executive Office of the President, designate an interagency 
 committee to coordinate activities of the Initiative.

    (2) Duties.--Each member of the Interagency Committee 
 shall--
        (A) work with the Director of the National 
 Biotechnology Coordination Office to oversee the 
 planning, management, and coordination of the 
 Initiative;
        (B) ensure the department or agency of the member 
 supports the Initiative through relevant activities set 
 forth under 

section 6;
            (C) keep the other members of the Interagency 
 Committee apprised of the activities described in 
 subparagraph
        (B) ; and
            (D) communicate activities of the Interagency 
 Committee with relevant components of the Department or 
 agency of the member.

    (3) Membership.--The Interagency Committee shall include 1 
 member at the Assistant Secretary level from each participating 
 agency selected by the head of the participating agency.

    (4) Co-chairpersons.--
        (A) In general.--The Interagency Committee shall 
 have 3 co-chairpersons, of whom--
            (i) one co-chairperson shall be the 
 Director of the National Biotechnology 
 Coordination Office; and
            (ii) two co-chairpersons shall be selected 
 by the members of the Interagency Committee 
 from among the members of the Interagency 
 Committee.
        (B) Terms.--Each co-chairperson selected pursuant 
 to subparagraph
        (A)
            (ii) shall serve a term of 2 years, 
 except for the first term the Interagency Committee 
 shall select one co-chairperson to serve a term of 3 
 years, such that subsequent terms are staggered.
            (C) Vacancies.--
            (i) In general.--A vacancy under this 
 paragraph shall be filled in the manner in 
 which the original appointment was made and 
 shall be subject to any conditions that applied 
 with respect to the original appointment.
            (ii) Filling unexpired term.--An individual 
 chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for 
 the unexpired term of the co-chairperson 
 replaced.
            (D) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the 
 Interagency Committee shall constitute a quorum for the 
 purposes of voting for co-chairpersons under clauses
            (i) 
            (II) and
            (ii) 
            (II) of subparagraph
        (A) , with co-
 chairpersons selected by the member who receives the 
 highest plurality of votes.
        (E) Limitation.--A member of the Interagency 
 Committee from a particular Federal department or 
 agency may not serve consecutive terms as co-
 chairperson of the Interagency Committee.

    (b) National Biotechnology Coordination Office.--

    (1) Establishment of national biotechnology coordination 
 office.--
        (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
 establish an office in the Executive Office of the 
 President to support the Initiative.
        (B) Designation.--The office established pursuant 
 to subparagraph
        (A) shall be known as the ``National 
 Biotechnology Coordination Office''.

    (2) Director of national biotechnology coordination 
 office.--
        (A) Appointment.--Not later than 180 days after the 
 date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
 appoint an individual to serve as the Director of the 
 National Biotechnology Coordination Office.
        (B) Duties.--The duties of the Director of the 
 National Biotechnology Coordination Office are as 
 follows:
            (i) To serve as the principal advisor to 
 the President for biotechnology.
            (ii) To administer the functions of the 
 Office set forth under paragraph

    (3) .
            (C) Authorities.--In support of the Initiative, the 
 Director may--
            (i) advise the Director of the Office of 
 Management and Budget for the purposes of 
 tracking and adjusting agency spending relating 
 to biotechnology, including to ensure that 
 Federal efforts are complementary and not 
 duplicative;
            (ii) convene members of the Interagency 
 Committee in order to advance and coordinate 
 Federal activities relating to biotechnology;
            (iii) coordinate Federal regulation of 
 products that are produced with biotechnology;
            (iv) select, appoint, employ, and fix the 
 compensation of such officers and employees as 
 are necessary and prescribe their duties;
            (v) enter into and perform such contracts, 
 leases, cooperative agreements, or other 
 transactions, as appropriate, to the conduct of 
 the work of the Office;
            (vi) utilize, with their consent, the 
 services, personnel, and facilities of other 
 Federal agencies; and
            (vii) accept voluntary and uncompensated 
 services, notwithstanding the provisions of 
 

section 1342 of title 31, United States Code.

    (3) Functions of the office.--The functions of the Office 
 shall be, in support of the Initiative, the following:
        (A) Planning and coordination.--Functions relating 
 to planning and coordination as follows:
            (i) Working with the Interagency Committee 
 to oversee the planning, management, and 
 coordination of Federal activities relating to 
 biotechnology.
            (ii) Providing technical and administrative 
 support to the Interagency Committee.
            (iii) Assessing the landscape and gaps 
 associated with the different components of the 
 Initiative.
            (iv) Coordinating a fellowship program in 
 which Federal employees are detailed to 1 or 
 more Federal agencies to gain greater 
 understanding of biotechnology activities 
 outside of their home agency.
            (v) Building and maintaining a coordinated 
 website for Federal activities relating to 
 biotechnology pursuant to subsection
            (c) .
            (vi) Coordinating development of an annual 
 report under subsection
            (d) and a national 
 strategy as required by subsection

    (e) .
            (vii) Conducting such other activities to 
 support the Initiative as the Director 
 considers appropriate.
        (B) National security.--Functions relating to 
 national security as follows:
            (i) Assessing and addressing the national 
 security and economic security implications of 
 emerging biotechnology.
            (ii) Identifying and remedying any major 
 needs or information gaps in current national 
 security assessments and activities, including 
 to conduct counterintelligence efforts to fill 
 gaps relating to biotechnology.
            (iii) Providing coordination in addressing 
 foreign investments and acquisition from 
 adversarial countries.
            (C) Research and development.--Functions relating 
 to research and development as follows:
            (i) Coordinating sustained support for 
 research and development that accelerates 
 scientific understanding and technological 
 innovation in biotechnology.
            (ii) Facilitating joint agency 
 solicitations for funding for individual 
 grants, collaborative grants, and 
 interdisciplinary research centers.
            (iii) Developing and proposing focus areas 
 or challenges for research funding meant to 
 advance biotechnology, particularly relating to 
 convergence with other technologies such as 
 artificial intelligence.
            (iv) Developing, standardizing, and 
 deploying robust mechanisms for documenting and 
 quantifying the outputs and economic benefits 
 of biotechnology.
            (D) Data and databases.--Functions relating to data 
 and databases as follows:
            (i) Coordinating sustained support for 
 biological data, databases, and related tools 
 as a strategic national resource to advance 
 human health and the understanding of animals, 
 plants, microbes, and other organisms.
            (ii) Recommending actions to integrate 
 security into biological data access and 
 international reciprocity agreements.
            (iii) Coordinating frameworks for 
 biological data standardization to create 
 datasets that are interoperable and usable by 
 advanced computation methods such as artificial 
 intelligence.
        (E) Product commercialization.--Functions relating 
 to product commercialization as follows:
            (i) Strategizing and coordinating on 
 private sector translation and 
 commercialization of products that are produced 
 with biotechnology.
            (ii) Assisting in coordinating a national 
 network of testbeds to enable scale-up of 
 biotechnology research.
        (F) Regulatory streamlining.--Functions relating to 
 regulatory streamlining as follows:
            (i) Coordinating the easing of regulatory 
 burden for types of biotechnology products that 
 have become well-understood by regulators, 
 including products that could have occurred 
 naturally or been developed with conventional 
 means.
            (ii) Negotiating interagency agreements 
 that describe clear regulatory pathways for 
 each type of biotechnology product, with 
 information about timelines, decision points, 
 expected data requirements, clear hand-offs 
 between agencies, and other information deemed 
 necessary by the Office to resolve regulatory 
 gaps, overlaps, and ambiguities for 
 biotechnology products.
            (iii) Providing regular status updates to 
 the Office of Management and Budget as to the 
 development of clear regulatory pathways, and 
 in the event that the Office and the 
 Interagency Committee cannot reach timely 
 agreement on a clear regulatory pathway for any 
 product type, assisting the Director of the 
 Office of Management and Budget in carrying out 
 paragraph

    (5) .
            (iv) Not later than 1 year after the date 
 of the enactment of this Act, jointly with the 
 Interagency Committee developing and making 
 available to the public a plan for regulatory 
 streamlining.
        (G) Biosafety and biosecurity.--Functions relating 
 to biosafety and biosecurity as follows:
            (i) Developing strategies and coordinating 
 to address biosafety and biosecurity issues 
 associated with emerging biotechnology.
            (ii) Coordinating on assessment and 
 mitigation of potential biosafety and 
 biosecurity threats relating to biotechnology 
 research, including through collaboration with 
 regulatory agencies and industry.
        (H) Workforce development.--Functions relating to 
 workforce development as follows:
            (i) Coordinating and developing strategies 
 to develop a domestic workforce for 
 biotechnology.
            (ii) Coordinating with appropriate agencies 
 to establish a national biotechnology workforce 
 framework to define biotechnology jobs and 
 skills in public and private sectors.
            (iii) Coordinating with appropriate 
 agencies to conduct an interagency assessment 
 of biotechnology workforce needs, and 
 subsequently developing and providing training 
 programs.
            (I) Bioliteracy.--Functions relating to bioliteracy 
 as follows:
            (i) Coordinating development of plain-
 language materials about biotechnology.
            (ii) Providing central locations, including 
 the website required by subsection
            (c) , for 
 clear, easy-to-find information about 
 biotechnology for policymakers, innovators, and 
 the public.
        (J) International partnerships.--Functions relating 
 to international partnerships as follows:
            (i) Coordinating Federal regulatory and 
 commercial diplomacy activities.
            (ii) Assessing the current regulatory and 
 commercial diplomacy activities carried out 
 across the Federal Government, identifying 
 gaps, and developing an outreach strategy to 
 improve the regulatory landscape and market 
 access for products of the United States.
            (iii) Identifying non-regulatory solutions 
 for trade and market access concerns (such as 
 the use of identity preservation for certain 
 agricultural biotechnology products) and 
 working with relevant government agencies and 
 stakeholders to implement solutions.
        (K) Other.--Such other activities as the Director 
 considers necessary to advance national security, 
 economic productivity, and competitiveness related to 
 biotechnology.

    (4) Administrative support and authorization of 
 appropriations.--
        (A) Administrative support.--The Director of the 
 National Science Foundation shall provide support for 
 the administration and implementation of the 
 Initiative, including--
            (i) appointing and providing compensation 
 for employees of the Office, without regard to 
 any provision relating to appointment or 
 compensation under title 5, United States Code, 
 including--
            (I) deputy directors as needed to 
 address the responsibilities in 
 paragraph

    (3) , as determined necessary 
 by the Director of the Office; and
            (II) other appropriate employees, 
 including experts in the science of 
 biotechnology, biotechnology policy, 
 regulatory policy, and science 
 communication, legal counsel, and 
 software designers and developers, as 
 determined necessary by the Director of 
 the Office;
            (ii) fixing the compensation of employees 
 of the Office in an amount that does not exceed 
 the amount of annual compensation (excluding 
 expenses) specified in 

section 102 of title 3, 
 United States Code;
            (iii) detailing employees of the National 
 Science Foundation to the Office and receiving 
 the detail of employees from other agencies to 
 the Office; and
            (iv) assistance with other costs associated 
 with running the Initiative, including physical 
 space, other staff, and overhead support.
        (B) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
 authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the 
 National Science Foundation to carry out subparagraph
        (A) --
            (i) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
            (ii) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
            (iii) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
            (iv) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
            (v) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.

    (5) Regulatory streamlining by office of management and 
 budget.--In the event that the Office and the Interagency 
 Committee cannot reach timely agreement on a clear regulatory 
 pathway for a product type, as described in paragraph

    (3)
        (F)
            (iii) , the Director of the Office of Management and 
 Budget shall--
        (A) identify overlaps, gaps, or ambiguities in the 
 regulation for such product type;
        (B) negotiate an interagency agreement that 
 describes a clear regulatory pathway for such product 
 type, with information about timelines, decision 
 points, expected data requirements, clear hand-offs 
 between agencies, and other information deemed 
 necessary by the Office of Management and Budget to 
 resolve regulatory gaps, overlaps, and ambiguities; and
            (C) recommend and oversee rulemaking or changes to 
 guidance as needed to implement clear regulatory 
 pathways.

    (6) Wind-down.--
        (A) In general.--The Office shall wind-down its 
 activities on the date that is 20 years after the date 
 of the enactment of this Act, and transition to serving 
 as an executive secretariat for the Initiative.
        (B) Wind-down activities.--The activities specified 
 in this clause are as follows:
            (i) The transfer of authorities, 
 requirements, resources, personnel, and 
 obligations of the Office to the fullest extent 
 possible to the Interagency Committee and such 
 elements of the Federal Government as the 
 Director and the Interagency Committee 
 considers appropriate.
            (ii) The Office shall maintain authorities, 
 requirements, resources, personnel, and 
 obligations necessary to serve as the executive 
 secretariat for the Initiative, including to 
 continue the coordination in subsection

    (b)

    (3)
        (A) , the website in subsection
            (c) , and 
 any other activities that the Director and the 
 Interagency Committee considers appropriate.
            (C) Treatment of transferred functions.--Commencing 
 on the date on which the Office is terminated under 
 subparagraph
        (A) , any reference to a requirement or an 
 authority of the Office that has been transferred to 
 the Interagency Committee or an element of the Federal 
 Government shall be treated as a reference to the 
 Interagency Committee or the element of the Federal 
 Government to which such requirement or authority was 
 transferred pursuant to subparagraph
        (B) .
            (c) Website.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 540 days after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
 Biotechnology Coordination Office and the Interagency Committee 
 shall jointly develop and publish for the public a single, 
 coordinated Federal website for biotechnology that adheres to 
 best practices for website design, development, and 
 maintenance.

    (2) Contents.--The website developed and published pursuant 
 to paragraph

    (1) shall include the following:
        (A) A dashboard of Federal Government activities 
 relating to biotechnology, including information about 
 open funding opportunities.
        (B) Plain-language information about biotechnology, 
 including information for policymakers, innovators, 
 trading partners, and the public.
            (C) A mechanism for stakeholders to ask a question 
 and receive a single, coordinated response.
            (D) Mechanisms, which may be populated over time, 
 to provide consolidated information about biotechnology 
 product regulation, focusing on products that are 
 regulated by more than 1 Federal agency, with content 
 that includes the following:
            (i) A repository of interagency agreements 
 that describe clear regulatory pathways, with 
 links to relevant regulations and guidance 
 documents for each type of biotechnology 
 product.
            (ii) A repository of regulatory decision 
 documents for biotechnology products.
            (iii) A digital portal that allows 
 submission of a single application and 
 information sharing between Federal agencies.

    (3) Updates.--The Director and the Interagency Committee 
 shall jointly update the website required by paragraph

    (1) periodically.
            (d) Annual Reports.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once 
 each year thereafter, except in years in which a national 
 strategy for biotechnology is required under subsection

    (e) , 
 the Director of National Biotechnology Coordination Office and 
 the Interagency Committee shall jointly submit to the Committee 
 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
 Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
 Representatives an annual report on the Initiative.

    (2) Contents.--Each annual report submitted pursuant to 
 paragraph

    (1) shall include, for the period covered by the 
 report, the following:
        (A) An inventory and accounting of Federal 
 Government activities and spending in support of the 
 Initiative.
        (B) Actions that the Director and the Interagency 
 Committee plan to take in support of the Initiative in 
 the next fiscal year.

    (e) National Strategy.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once 
 every 5 years thereafter, the Director of National 
 Biotechnology Coordination Office and the Interagency Committee 
 shall jointly make available to the public and submit to the 
 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
 Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
 the House of Representatives a comprehensive national strategy 
 for biotechnology.

    (2) Elements.--Each national strategy made available and 
 submitted pursuant to paragraph

    (1) shall cover the following:
        (A) Actions, goals, and priorities to advance the 
 Initiative, including how each Federal department and 
 agency will address the requirements of 

section 6 and 
 how each Federal department and agency will integrate 
 biotechnology into their own strategies.
        (B) Activities that are an urgent priority to 
 advance biotechnology in the United States but not 
 currently being conducted by Federal agencies, with an 
 estimated 5-year budget for those activities.
            (C) Recommendations for legislative or 
 administrative action to advance biotechnology in the 
 United States.
            (D) An inventory of all Federal Government 
 databases with biological data with an assessment that 
 identifies opportunities--
            (i) to improve the utility of such 
 databases, in a manner that does not compromise 
 national security or the privacy and security 
 of information within such databases; and
            (ii) to inform investment in such databases 
 as critical infrastructure for the 
 biotechnology research enterprise.
        (E) An assessment of United States competitiveness 
 in biotechnology relative to peer countries, 
 including--
            (i) contributions of biotechnology to 
 United States economic growth and other 
 societal indicators;
            (ii) contributions of biotechnology to 
 economic growth in other countries, especially 
 peer-competitors; and
            (iii) current barriers to commercialization 
 of biotechnology products, processes, and tools 
 in the United States.
        (F) A national biological data strategy to ensure 
 biotechnology research fully leverages plant, animal, 
 and microbe biodiversity, as appropriate and in a 
 manner that does not compromise economic 
 competitiveness, national security, or the privacy or 
 security of human genetic information.
        (G) The information that is required as a part of 
 the annual report required by subsection
            (d) .

    (f) Comptroller General Review.--The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall--

    (1) not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment 
 of this Act, begin a review to assess the efficacy of 
 interagency coordination and fulfillment of the activities 
 conducted by the Office and the Interagency Committee under the 
 Initiative;

    (2) not later than 3.5 years after the date of the 
 enactment of this Act, provide Congress a briefing on the 
 initial findings of the Comptroller General with respect to the 
 activities described in paragraph

    (1) ;

    (3) not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment 
 of this Act, submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 
 Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report 
 with recommendations to improve the Initiative; and

    (4) repeat the process outlined in paragraphs

    (1) ,

    (2) , and

    (3) every 5 years thereafter until the date that is 20 years 
 after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. CONVENING OF EXPERTS ON BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Biotechnology 
Coordination Office may, in consultation with the Interagency 
Committee, convene experts to assess and inform the activities of the 
Initiative in a time and manner as deemed appropriate and necessary by 
the Director.

    (b) Application of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--

Section 1013 of 
title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the convening of 
experts under this section.

SEC. 6. AGENCY ACTIVITIES.

 Each head of a participating agency shall, in support of the 
Initiative and in coordination with the Office, conduct or support, in 
a manner consistent with the duties and mission of the respective 
department or agency, the following activities to advance biotechnology 
across defense, human health, food and agriculture, energy, space, 
mining, environmental stewardship, and other sectors:

    (1) Planning and coordination.--Activities relating to 
 planning and coordination as follows:
        (A) Designating an individual within the respective 
 department or agency at the level of Assistant 
 Secretary to lead the biotechnology activities for the 
 department or agency, if such person is not already 
 designated, and to serve as the department or agency 
 liaison to the Initiative and member of the Interagency 
 Committee.
        (B) Designating individuals within the respective 
 department or agency to serve as members of 
 subcommittees that may be established by the 
 Interagency Committee.
            (C) Coordinating activities of the participating 
 agency that relate to biotechnology with the Office.
            (D) Implementing applicable portions of the 
 national strategy required by 

section 4

    (e) in ways that 
 improve government efficiency and reduce redundancy.
        (E) Providing insight and information about 
 biotechnology to the heads of other Federal departments 
 and agencies and to Congress.
        (F) Leveraging horizon scanning and technology 
 foresight to ensure United States leadership in future 
 biotechnology advancements.

    (2) National security.--Activities relating to national 
 security as follows:
        (A) Analyzing ongoing and emerging threats from 
 foreign adversary development and application of 
 biotechnology, including foreign investments and 
 acquisition of United States capabilities, 
 technologies, and biological data.
        (B) Providing expertise to address foreign 
 investments and acquisition from adversarial countries.
            (C) Analyzing and identifying actions to mitigate 
 supply chain risks posed by foreign adversary 
 involvement in such supply chains.
            (D) Coordinating and ensuring information sharing 
 with foreign service officers regarding threats to and 
 opportunities for biotechnology.
        (E) Coordinating with industry on threat 
 information sharing, vulnerability disclosure, and risk 
 mitigation for cybersecurity and infrastructure risks, 
 including risks to biological data and related physical 
 and digital infrastructure and devices.
        (F) Improving cybersecurity and stress-testing 
 related to sensitive biological data and to 
 biotechnology infrastructure, tools, and 
 instrumentation.

    (3) Research and development.--Activities relating to 
 research and development as follows:
        (A) Providing sustained support for research and 
 development that accelerates scientific understanding 
 and technological innovation in biotechnology.
        (B) Conducting joint agency solicitation and 
 selection of applications for funding of individual 
 grants, collaborative grants, and interdisciplinary 
 research centers.
            (C) Developing instrumentation, equipment, and 
 infrastructure for biotechnology, including to 
 optimize, standardize, scale, and deliver new products 
 and solutions.
            (D) Developing standard reference materials and 
 measurements to promote interoperability between new 
 component technologies and processes for biotechnology 
 discovery, innovation, and production processes.
        (E) Increasing understanding of the risks and 
 benefits of biotechnology, including how products 
 developed with biotechnology can affect or protect the 
 environment.
        (F) Increasing understanding of the ethical, legal, 
 and social implications of biotechnology, including 
 research that contributes to public understanding of 
 biotechnology.

    (4) Data and databases.--Activities relating to data and 
 databases as follows:
        (A) Providing sustained support for biological 
 data, databases, and related tools to advance human 
 health and the understanding of animals, plants, 
 microbes, and other organisms.
        (B) Establishing, curating, and maintaining 
 genomics, epigenomics, and other relevant omics and 
 biological data and databases, such as through a 
 centralized biological data access hub with appropriate 
 protections for the privacy or security of information 
 within such databases.
            (C) Developing standards for biological data and 
 databases, including for curation, interoperability, 
 and protection of privacy and security.
            (D) Developing computational tools, including 
 artificial intelligence tools, to accelerate research 
 and innovation using biological data and databases.
        (E) Developing tools that use omics and associated 
 bioinformatic sciences to improve monitoring, 
 management, assessments, and forecasts.

    (5) Product commercialization.--Activities relating to 
 product commercialization as follows:
        (A) Providing sustained support for private sector 
 translation and commercialization of products that are 
 produced with biotechnology, including 
 biomanufacturing.
        (B) Utilizing existing Federal programs, such as 
 the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the 
 Small Business Technology Transfer Program (as 
 described in 

section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 
 U.S.C. 638)), in support of biotechnology, including to 
 support proof of concept activities, and the formation 
 of startup companies.
            (C) Accelerating the translation, scale-up, and 
 commercialization of new products, processes, and 
 technologies in order to transfer fundamental research 
 results to industry and accelerate commercial 
 applications.
            (D) Facilitating public-private partnerships in 
 biotechnology research and development that address and 
 reduce barriers to scaling up biotechnology 
 innovations.
        (E) Supporting a national network of testbeds based 
 on open standards, interfaces, and processes, including 
 by repurposing existing facilities, to enable scale-up 
 of biotechnology research.
        (F) Providing incentives for retooling of 
 industrial sites across the United States to foster a 
 pivot to biotechnology.
        (G) Providing access to user facilities with 
 advanced or unique equipment, services, materials, and 
 other resources, including secure access to high-
 performance computing, as appropriate, to industry, 
 institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
 organizations, and government agencies to perform 
 research and testing.

    (6) Regulatory streamlining.--Activities relating to 
 regulatory streamlining as follows:
        (A) Conducting and coordinating regulatory 
 streamlining for products that are produced with 
 biotechnology.
        (B) Easing regulatory burden for types of 
 biotechnology products that have become well-understood 
 by regulators, including products that could have 
 occurred naturally or been developed with conventional 
 means.
            (C) Establishing clear regulatory pathways for 
 biotechnology products, including through short-term 
 regulatory trials to establish new or update existing 
 regulatory pathways.
            (D) Ensuring consistent, risk-proportionate 
 regulation of biotechnology research and development 
 activities, including for release of products or 
 organisms into the environment.
        (E) Conducting horizon scanning to identify novel 
 biotechnology products and develop clear regulatory 
 pathways for such products.

    (7) Biosafety and biosecurity.--Activities relating to 
 biosafety and biosecurity as follows:
        (A) Addressing biosafety, biosecurity, and 
 responsible biology issues associated with emerging 
 biotechnology.
        (B) Developing an applied management plan to 
 address biological risks of biotechnology research.
            (C) Creating an adaptable, evidence-based framework 
 to respond to emerging biosecurity challenges that 
 considers and informs updates of existing biosecurity 
 governance policies, guidance, and directives and 
 identifies necessary safeguards for new products, 
 processes, and systems of biotechnology.
            (D) Conducting outreach to industry, institutions 
 of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and 
 government agencies to increase awareness of biosafety 
 and biosecurity implications of biotechnology research.

    (8) Workforce development.--Activities relating to 
 workforce development as follows:
        (A) Providing sustained support for development of 
 a domestic biotechnology workforce.
        (B) Ensuring that Congress and Federal departments 
 and agencies have access to necessary expertise across 
 national security and emerging biotechnology issues.
            (C) Supporting Federal biotechnology education and 
 workforce training programs and initiatives for 
 students and workers.
            (D) Supporting education and training of 
 undergraduate and graduate students in biotechnology, 
 including biomanufacturing, bioprocess engineering, and 
 computational science applied to biotechnology.
        (E) Connecting researchers, graduate students, and 
 postdoctoral fellows with entrepreneurship education 
 and training opportunities, including to award grants, 
 on a competitive basis, that enable institutions to 
 support graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows who 
 perform some of their biotechnology research in an 
 industry setting.
        (F) Supporting professional development, continuing 
 education, and skills development (such as re-skilling 
 and upskilling) for veterans, industry workers, and 
 technology professionals.
        (G) Supporting curriculum development and research 
 experiences for secondary, undergraduate, and graduate 
 students in biotechnology, including through support 
 for graduate fellowships and traineeships in 
 biotechnology to ensure that students are receiving up-
 to-date training that keeps pace with biotechnologies 
 as they evolve and meets industry workforce needs so 
 students are qualified for employment.
        (H) Supporting curriculum development and research 
 experiences in biotechnology and associated data and 
 information sciences across the Federal workforce, 
 including for the military education system.

    (9) Bioliteracy.--Activities relating to bioliteracy as 
 follows:
        (A) Providing clear, easy-to-find information about 
 biotechnology for policymakers, innovators, and the 
 public.
        (B) Supporting greater evidence-based public 
 discourse about the benefits and risks of 
 biotechnology.
            (C) Ensuring that public input and outreach are 
 integrated into Federal biotechnology activities 
 through regular and ongoing public discussions such as 
 workshops, consensus conferences, and educational 
 events, as may be appropriate.

    (10) International partnerships.--Activities relating to 
 international partnerships as follows:
        (A) Developing an internal international engagement 
 strategy for the respective department or agency, in 
 cooperation with relevant interagency partners.
        (B) Strengthening and developing bilateral and 
 multilateral relationships to advance United States 
 priorities in biotechnology abroad.
            (C) Providing sustained support and coordinating 
 interagency activities in international biotechnology 
 outreach and engagement with allies and partners.
            (D) Engaging in coordinated regulatory and 
 commercial diplomacy to better align biotechnology 
 regulations and expand market access for biotechnology 
 products.
        (E) Supporting the development of international 
 standards and norms for biotechnology, including to 
 define shared values and interests.
        (F) Supporting biological data-sharing agreements 
 with partner countries.
        (G) Supporting biotechnology talent exchanges with 
 partner countries, including through fellowships, work 
 authorization programs, and other mechanisms.
        (H) Supporting harmonization of multilateral export 
 controls to protect against misuse of biotechnology.

    (11) Other.--Such other activities as the head of the 
 participating agency determines may be needed to advance 
 national security, economic productivity, and competitiveness 
 relating to biotechnology.
 <all>