February 26, 2025
Mr. Marshall (for himself and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To provide a moratorium on all Federal research grants provided to any institution of higher education or other research institute that is conducting dangerous gain-of-function research.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Dangerous Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act
.
Sec. 2. Prohibition on Federal research grants for institutions and research institutes conducting dangerous gain-of-function research
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Gain-of-function research
The term gain-of-function research means any research that—
(A)
involves the genetic alteration of an organism to change or enhance the organism's biological functions, which change or enhancement may include increased infectivity, transmissibility, pathogenicity, or host range (which is the spectrum of hosts that an organism can infect); or
(B)
may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to an organism, such that the organism would have enhanced infectivity, pathogenicity, or transmissibility, or otherwise pose a threat to national security, public safety, or the health of humans, companion animals, or livestock, poultry, seafood and aquaculture species, or game animals.
(2) Organism
The term organism means an influenza virus, a coronavirus (including a Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, SARS–CoV–1, SARS–CoV–2, or SARS-like viruses), or an agent or toxin on the Select Agents and Toxins List of the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Agriculture under part 331 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, part 121 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations, or part 73 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, or any synthetic construct of such virus, agent, or toxin.
(b) Prohibition
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no research grants supported by Federal funds may be awarded to institutions of higher education, or other research institutes, that are conducting gain-of-function research.