Padilla, Congressional Biotech Commission Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster U.S. Biotechnology Innovation and Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a Commissioner of the bipartisan National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), and the other three Congressional Commissioners introduced legislation to promote federal coordination on emerging biotechnology and streamline the regulatory structures currently inhibiting biotechnology innovation. Padilla joined Commission Chair Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Representatives Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.-05) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17) in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral National Biotechnology Initiative Act, which would implement key recommendations from the Commission's new report, released yesterday.

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.

"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," said Senator Padilla. "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."

"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," said Senator Young.

"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," said Representative 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," said Representative Khanna.

Specifically, the legislation promotes federal coordination on biotechnology by establishing:

• A National Biotechnology Coordination Office (NBCO) within the Executive Office of the President to lead and coordinate federal biotechnology efforts by streamlining biotechnology regulation. The Office would make these improvements by easing regulatory burdens for well-understood products, negotiating interagency agreements to describe clear regulatory pathways, and working with the Office of Management and Budget in cases of disagreement. The NBCO would publish a national biotechnology strategy every five years.

• A Principal Advisor to the President for Biotechnology, who would also serve as Director of the Coordination Office.

• An Interagency Committee to coordinate across federal departments and agencies.

• Clear roles and responsibilities for all federal departments and agencies engaged in biotechnology.

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 bipartisan NSCEB 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 working together to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies to protect U.S. national security.

Yesterday, the Commission delivered their major report and action plan, urging Congressional action to bring the full weight of American innovation to improve and maintain U.S. global leadership in biotechnology. For more information about the Commission and to view the report, visit biotech.senate.gov.

Senator Padilla was appointed to serve as a Congressional Commissioner after Congress formed the Commission in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. Last year, Padilla and Young introduced a bipartisan package of bills focused on protecting America's food security and agricultural supply chains, which are critical to U.S. national security. Padilla also announced the Commission's first round of findings and recommendations for policymakers in an interim report outlining the promise of biotechnology for U.S. national security and economic competitiveness and growth.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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