November 10, 2025
Ms. Houlahan (for herself and Mr. Sessions) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To direct the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy on the national security implications of emerging biotechnologies, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Defense Biotechnology Strategy Act
.
Sec. 2. Department of Defense biotechnology strategy
(a) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a strategy on the national security implications of emerging biotechnologies, including the future role that biotechnology will play in defense, and means to improve industry, interagency, and international relationships in this sector.
(b) Elements
The strategy required pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following elements:
(1)
How the Department of Defense will develop and expand a network of commercial facilities for the biomanufacture of products that are critical for defense needs.
(2)
Review and update of military specifications in order to better incorporate or substitute current products with biotechnology-based products.
(3)
Updated plans and policies for the Department to enter into advance market commitments and offtake agreements for biotechnology products that have defense applications.
(4)
A description of how the Department could better incorporate military-relevant applications of emerging biotechnology into wargaming exercises, tabletop exercises, or other net assessment analyses.
(5)
The benefits and costs of issuing a research grand challenge, or a series of challenges, that focus on making biotechnology predictably engineerable and how the Department would implement such research grand challenge, or challenges.
(6)
Development of a biotechnology regulation science and technology program within the Department, including development of digital infrastructure to support simplified regulation and the development of biometrology tools.
(7)
Updated plans and policies for inter-governmental support that the Department could provide in encouraging member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to aggregate demand and pool purchasing power for biotechnology products.
(8)
Review of plans and guidance on how the Department can work to develop, integrate, and disseminate biotechnology research initiatives across member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and how the Department might coordinate with international stakeholders to utilize the combined research capabilities of such member countries to drive a biotechnology development approach.