September 8, 2025
Mr. Khanna (for himself, Mr. Garamendi, and Mr. Davis of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to issue guidance for private entities on demonstrating how biobased products meet Department of Defense requirements, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Establishing biobased product merit guidance
(a) In general
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code), shall develop and make publicly available guidance for private entities on how such entities can effectively prove that a biobased product of such entity provides capabilities meeting the requirements of the Department of Defense.
(b) Analysis
(1) In general
The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an analysis of the process of the Department of Defense for developing requirements to determine if such processes intentionally or unintentionally exclude biobased products.
(2) Report
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the congressional defense committees (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code) a report on the findings of the analysis conducted under paragraph (1) and, if Comptroller General determines through such analysis that the processes described in such paragraph exclude biobased products, containing recommendations of the Comptroller General to reduce such exclusion.
(c) Biobased product defined
In this section, the term biobased product means a product manufactured, produced, or developed through the application living organisms to alter living or non-living materials.