National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Announces FY25 NDAA Biotechnology Provisions
18 December 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC –
Today, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology announces that Congress has enacted a suite of recommendations designed to galvanize action on biotechnology for the Department of Defense.
“Biotechnology is critical to our national security and economy, and if the United States does not lead in biotech, our adversaries will. Congress must act swiftly and decisively to prioritize biotechnology in the new fiscal year and beyond,” – NSCEB Chair Senator Todd Young
The FY25 National Defense Authorization Act includes new authorities and requirements – derived from Commission proposals from May 2024 – that will position the DOD and Intelligence Community (IC) to maximize the benefits of biotechnology for national defense. The Commission worked with Congress to develop these proposals, which set the stage for further recommendations forthcoming in early 2025.
“Congress has acted wisely to prioritize biotechnology in the technoeconomic competition with China, and I look forward to even greater focus following the Commission’s report next year.” – NSCEB Vice Chair Michelle Rozo
The Commission secured four provisions requiring:
- DOD to create and publish an annual biotechnology roadmap, including assessing barriers to adoption of biotechnology, DOD workforce needs, and opportunities for international collaboration;
- DOD to Initiate a public-private “sandbox” in which DOD and industry can securely develop use cases for AI and biotechnology convergence (AIxBio);
- IC to conduct a rapid assessment of biotechnology in the People’s Republic of China and their actions to gain superiority in this sector;
- IC to develop an intelligence strategy to identify and assess biotechnology threats, especially regarding supply chain vulnerabilities.
“Biotechnology will transform how the United States thinks about security and resiliency across all sectors of the economy. These bipartisan and bicameral provisions are just the beginning, and I look forward to making biotechnology an important piece of the American strategy.” – NSCEB Commissioner Representative Ro Khanna
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About NSCEB: The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a time-limited, high-impact 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 biorevolution. The Commission 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
