Engineering Biology Readiness Act

More engineering biology review, delayed briefings

If enacted, the bill would require the next biennial biodefense threat assessment after enactment to include an engineering biology risk analysis and recommendations. Agencies would assess current and anticipated engineering biology threats, describe related research across prevention, detection, response, and recovery, and analyze authorities, regulations, and gaps. Recommendations would seek to align research across agencies, modernize biosafety and biosecurity authorities, establish or update programs to enforce safeguards and provide guidance, and include proposed legislation and funding estimates. Those recommendations must be developed with industry, universities, and civil society, including researchers who have not received Federal funding in the prior five years. The report would be submitted in unclassified form and may include a classified annex. Separately, the bill would change a required annual biodefense briefing deadline by striking the fixed date March 1, 2025 and replacing it with the date that is five years after enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027. That deadline change would take effect upon enactment.