Sec. 231. National security emerging biotechnologies research and development program
781 words·~4 min read·
/bill/116/s/1790/rs/section-231·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a research and development program on applications of emerging biotechnologies for the national security purposes set forth in subsection (b). The national security purposes set forth in this subsection are as follows: To ensure military understanding and relevancy of applications of emerging biotechnologies in meeting national security requirements. To coordinate all research and development relating to emerging biotechnologies within the Department of Defense and to provide for interagency cooperation and collaboration on research and development relating to emerging biotechnologies between the Department and other departments and agencies of the United States and appropriate private sector entities that are involved in research and development relating to emerging biotechnologies.
To develop and manage a portfolio of fundamental and applied emerging biotechnologies research initiatives that is stable, consistent, and balanced across scientific disciplines. To collect, synthesize, and disseminate critical information on research and development relating to emerging biotechnologies within the national security establishment. To establish and support appropriate research, innovation, and the industrial base, including facilities and infrastructure, to support the needs of Department missions and scientific workforce relating to emerging biotechnologies.
To develop a technical basis to inform the intelligence community on the analysis needs of the Department with respect to emerging biotechnologies. In carrying out the program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall act through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, who shall supervise the planning, management, and coordination of the program. The Under Secretary, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments and the heads of participating Defense Agencies and other departments and agencies of the United States, shall— prescribe a set of long-term challenges and a set of broad technical goals for the program; develop a coordinated and integrated research and investment plan for meeting near-, mid-, and long-term challenges for achieving broad technical goals that build upon the Department’s investment in emerging biotechnologies research and development, commercial sector and global investments, and other United States Government investments in emerging biotechnologies fields; not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, develop and continuously update guidance, including classification guidance for defense-related emerging biotechnologies activities, and policies for restricting access to research to minimize the effects of loss of intellectual property in basic and applied emerging biotechnologies and information considered sensitive to the leadership of the United States in the field of emerging biotechnologies; and develop memoranda of agreement, joint funding agreements, and other cooperative arrangements necessary for meeting long-term challenges and achieving specific technical goals.
Not later than December 31, 2020, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the program carried out under subsection (a). The report required by paragraph
(1)shall include the following: An assessment of the potential national security risks of emerging biotechnologies technologies. An assessment of the efforts of foreign powers to use emerging biotechnologies for military applications and other purposes. A description of the knowledge-base of the Department with respect to emerging biotechnologies, plans to defend against potential national security threats posed by emerging biotechnologies, and any plans of the Secretary to enhance such knowledge-base. A plan that describes how the Secretary intends to use emerging biotechnologies for military applications and to meet other needs of the Department. A description of activities undertaken consistent with this section, including funding for activities consistent with the section. Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate. The report submitted under paragraph
(1)shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. In this section, the term emerging biotechnologies includes the following: Engineered biology, which is the application of engineering design principles and practices to biological, genetic, molecular, and cellular systems to enable novel functions and capabilities. Neurotechnology, which refers to central and peripheral nervous system interfaces that leverage structural, computational, and mathematical modeling to develop devices that decode neural activity (identify how it corresponds to a particular behavior or cognitive state, such as sensorimotor function, memory, or neuropsychiatric function) and use this information to deliver targeted interventions or therapies to facilitate performance. Performance enhancement, namely technologies that augment human physiology at the cellular, molecular, and physiological levels giving the end user novel or enhanced physical and psychological capabilities. Gene editing, including tools that facilitate deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA)sequence deletion, replacement, or insertion into cellular or organismal genetic material, thereby modulating genetic function for applications that include treating and preventing disease, and improving function of biological systems. Biomolecular sequencing and synthesis, namely the processes by which biomolecular components (such as deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid) can be measured (sequencing) or generated (synthesis) for uses in engineering biology, biomanufacturing, and other medical and nonmedical applications.