National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Selects Senator Todd Young as Chair
12 September 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC –
Today, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology announces the selection of Senator Todd Young (R-IN) as the new Chair of the Commission.
“We appreciate Senator Young’s willingness to serve as Chair and eagerly anticipate the findings of the Commission in the new year,” said Armed Services Committee Chairmen Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL-03). “We thank Dr. Jason Kelly for his service to the Commission over the past eighteen months and wish him well. Companies like Ginkgo Bioworks are integral to the work of the U.S. government on biotechnology and national security issues, and his perspective has been invaluable to the work of the Commission.”
Dr. Jason Kelly said, “It has been an honor to serve and lead this remarkable group of experts, and I thank Chairman Rogers for the opportunity to serve in this capacity. Thank you to my Commission colleagues for your support as I return to focusing all of my attention on Ginkgo. I look forward to the successful completion of the Commission’s work and urge Congress to act with urgency and foresight to prioritize biotechnology among other critical and emerging technology needs for the government.”
“We are grateful to Dr. Kelly for his leadership and service. His contributions as an expert on biotechnology issues have been invaluable to the Commission’s work,” said the Commissioners.
The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a legislative branch advisory entity whose purpose is to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies for U.S. national security and to prepare the United States for the age of biotechnology. The Commission submitted an interim report to the President and the Armed Services Committees in December 2023 and will publish a comprehensive report in early 2025, including recommendations for action by Congress and the federal government. The bipartisan Commission is composed of Congressionally-appointed Commissioners with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as experts from industry, academia, and government. For more information about the Commission, visit https://biotech.senate.gov.
Contact: press@biotech.senate.gov
