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119-hr-9307119th Congress

Web of Biological Data Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7]

Introduced

Summary

The Web of Biological Data Act would create a centralized Web of Biological Data as a single entry point for federal biological datasets and require standards that make data usable for advanced computing and AI. It would fund a National Laboratory-led build, set metadata and quality rules, and require tiered cybersecurity and access controls.

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  • Researchers: Would get a single point-of-entry interface linking federal datasets, hosted data, and bioinformatics tools. Phase I testing must be completed within 2 years and broader access and data types are targeted by year 5.
  • Federal labs and partners: The Department of Energy would competitively select a National Laboratory to build the Web and may enter data-sharing and cost-sharing agreements with other agencies, industry, philanthropy, and international partners.
  • Security and governance: The Web must include data-quality metrics, interoperable metadata and APIs, tiered cybersecurity and controls that can restrict access for adversarial countries, an 11-member advisory board, and biannual external cybersecurity reviews. The law preserves existing privacy, consent, and human-subject protections.

*This bill would authorize about $340 million for the first three years and about $160 million for the subsequent two years, roughly $500 million in authorized funding, increasing federal spending.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Standards and Phase II expansion

If enacted, the Director must expand the Web within 5 years so U.S. researchers can access more biological data types. The expanded Web would host bioinformatics tools, adopt interoperable metadata and ontologies, and use formats suitable for AI training. The Director must work with NIST, the National Library of Medicine, and the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource on standards and APIs. The expansion would also keep tiered security and limit sharing with countries the Secretary identifies.

Stronger cybersecurity and reviews

If enacted, the Web would use tiered cybersecurity safeguards and access controls based on data sensitivity. The Director would seek a contract with an outside group to do independent assessments every two years. Assessment results and fixes would be included in the Director's reports to Congress.

Federal funding and launch plan

If enacted, the bill would authorize funding and a launch plan for the Web of Biological Data. It would authorize $310 million for Phase I and $30 million for the R&D program for the first 3 years. If Phase I is completed and the report is sent, it would authorize $80 million per year for each of the next 2 years. The Secretary would run a competition and, within 180 days, award a grant to a National Laboratory. The Secretary and Director would also have 1 year to submit an implementation plan to Congress.

Initial Web build and data rules

If enacted, the Web would serve as a single point of entry for federally funded biological data and must show metadata on data quality. The Director could sign data‑sharing and cost‑sharing agreements with other federal agencies, philanthropy, and industry to bring in data and funding. The Director would test an initial Web within 2 years focused on selected data types, with a human‑centered interface and initial APIs developed with NIST. Phase I would also require stakeholder testing, selection of initial R&D projects, cost‑sharing deals, and a report to Congress. The Phase I plan would limit sharing with adversarial or non‑reciprocal countries as the Secretary designates.

Advisory board and congressional reports

If enacted, the Secretary would set up an advisory board within 180 days after picking the lead lab. The Director would chair a board with 11 members from industry, academia, other national labs, and Federal agencies. Chapter 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act would not apply to this board. The Director would also report to two congressional committees not later than 2 years after enactment and every year after that on progress and cybersecurity findings.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7]

TN • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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