National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Congressional Commissioners Introduce Bill to Promote U.S. Biotechnology Innovation
Bipartisan legislation promotes federal coordination and streamlines the regulatory structures currently inhibiting biotechnology innovation
9 April 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC – Today the four bipartisan Congressional Commissioners on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) introduced legislation to implement a key recommendation from the Commission’s report, released earlier this week. Commission Chair Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Commissioners Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Representative Stephanie Bice (R-OK5), and Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA17) jointly introduced the National Biotechnology Initiative Act in both the House and Senate.
The National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025 would set in motion a whole-of-government approach to advancing biotechnology for U.S. national security, economic productivity, and competitiveness. The bill would establish a National Biotechnology Coordination Office within the Executive Office of the President to lead and coordinate federal biotechnology efforts.
The full report and action plan can be found at: www.biotech.senate.gov/final-report
“The United States has long been a leader in biotechnology, but we now risk losing our edge to China. In this era of global competition, we need to promote American biotech innovation and manufacturing. Our legislation will provide a long-term strategy to make federal agencies work together — with greater efficiency — to support American biotechnology.” – NSCEB Chair Senator Todd Young
“American innovation in biotechnology will unlock new economic and national security possibilities across a wide array of key sectors, from battlefield innovation and industrial manufacturing to health care and agriculture. Keeping all federal agencies aligned and working on domestic biotech priorities is critical, but our Commission has found that communication is still fragmented. By creating the National Biotechnology Coordination Office, our bipartisan legislation would ensure lasting, organized collaboration between federal agencies to build a long-term biotech strategy and secure American leadership in its development.” – NSCEB Commissioner Senator Alex Padilla
“We must streamline regulation and allow private industry to lead our country forward in this new era. America must maintain our competitive advantage, have the capabilities to safeguard our nation, and stay ahead of China in biotechnology.” – NSCEB Commissioner Representative Stephanie Bice
“It’s more than a biotechnology strategy—it’s a national security strategy for the age of technology and biology. Without a coordinated approach, we will fall behind China and won’t be able to recover our lead.” – NSCEB Commissioner Representative Ro Khanna
Legislative Overview:
The legislation promotes federal coordination on biotechnology by establishing:
1. A National Biotechnology Coordination Office (NBCO) within the Executive Office of the President to lead and coordinate federal biotechnology efforts. Th NBCO would streamline biotechnology regulation to ease regulatory burdens on well-understood products, negotiate interagency agreements to describe clear regulatory pathways, and work with the Office of Management and Budget in cases of disagreement. The NBCO would publish a national biotechnology strategy every five years;
2. A Principal Advisor to the President for Biotechnology, who would also serve as Director of the Coordination Office;
3. An Interagency Committee to coordinate across federal departments and agencies;
4. Clear roles and responsibilities for all federal departments and agencies engaged in biotechnology.
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 published a comprehensive report in April 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 and to view the report, visit
biotech.senate.gov.
Contact: press@biotech.senate.gov
