Engineering Biology Readiness Act

The first time after the date of the enactment of this Act that findings are provided to the appropriate congressional committees pursuant to the biennial update of the biodefense threat assessment under section 364(d)(1)(D) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (6 U.S.C. 106(d)(1)(D)), such findings shall include an analysis of, and recommendations to enhance, the readiness of the United States national security enterprise and life science research enterprise against engineering biology risks.

The analysis required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

(A) An assessment of the threat to national security and public safety posed by current and anticipated engineering biology risks.

(B) A description of current lines of research and development in covered departments and agencies relating to biodefense against engineering biology risks, including prevention, deterrence, preparedness, detection, response, attribution, recovery, and mitigation.

(C) An analysis of authorities, regulations, and programs pertaining to engineering biology risks, in the United States, including biosafety, biosecurity, and biodefense.

(D) An evaluation of gaps, deficiencies, redundancies, and ambiguities in authorities and regulations pertaining to engineering biology risks.

(E) Such other matters as the heads of the covered departments and agencies jointly consider relevant.

The recommendations required by subsection (a) shall include recommendations for the following:

(A) Aligning lines of research and development across covered departments and agencies to reduce redundant efforts and promote the mutual benefit for purposes of biosafety, biosecurity, and biodefense against engineering biology risks.

(B) Modernizing biosafety, biosecurity, and biodefense authorities, regulations, and programs pertaining to engineering biology risks to ensure the United States—

(i) mitigates the safety and security threat to national security and public safety posed by engineering biology risks; and

(ii) benefits from the research, development, application, and dissemination of innovations in engineering biology under an enduring governance framework that accommodates novel discoveries and capabilities in life sciences research;

(C) Establishing a program or programs, or modernizing an existing program or programs—

(i) to establish and enforce safeguards to mitigate engineering biology risks to national security or public safety; and

(ii) to identify best practices, promulgate voluntary guidance, and provide consultation on matters of biosecurity and biosafety in the United States.

(D) For purposes of subparagraphs (B) and (C), detailed proposed legislative action and an estimate of the amount of funding necessary to ensure that relevant programs have adequate resources.

(E) Such other matters as the heads of the covered departments and agencies jointly consider relevant.

The recommendations described in subsection (b)(2) shall be developed in consultation with—

(1) individuals representing industry, academia, and civil society, including representatives of the life sciences research enterprise who have not received any Federal grant or contract in the preceding five years; and

(2) such other government agencies or interested stakeholders as the heads of the covered departments and agencies jointly consider appropriate.

The analysis and recommendations required by this section shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

In this section:

(1) The term covered departments and agencies means the departments and agencies included in section 364(a) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (6 U.S.C. 106(a)).

(2) The term engineering biology has the meaning given such term in section 10002 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18901).

(3) The term engineering biology risk means a risk to national security or public safety arising from the misuse, abuse, or accidental release of materials arising from, or the misuse or abuse of methods, tools, or information pertaining to, engineering biology.