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119-s-4729119th Congress

Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

Introduced

Summary

Establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for crimes involving biological agents and toxins. It targets smuggling, conspiracies to smuggle, and false statements tied to importation or federal authorizations.

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  • People who conspire to smuggle or who smuggle biological agents would face a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison.
  • People convicted of making false statements to federal officials about smuggling, importation, permits, or declarations involving biological agents would face a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison.
  • Title 18 would be reorganized to add these explicit minimums and to reference section 178 for the definition of "biological agent or toxin", aiming to close gaps and standardize penalties.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

20-year prison minimum for bio smuggling

This bill would create a mandatory minimum prison term of not less than 20 years for anyone convicted of smuggling into the United States, or attempting to smuggle, a biological agent or toxin as defined in section 178. It would also impose the same 20-year minimum when two or more people conspire and the object of the conspiracy is such smuggling. The rule would apply regardless of other laws and to offenses committed on or after the law's enactment.

5-year minimum for false bio statements

This bill would add a mandatory minimum prison term of not less than 5 years to federal false-statement law when the lie, concealment, or false document relates to smuggling, importation, declaration, permit applications, or any other federal authorization for a biological agent or toxin as defined in section 178. The 5-year minimum would apply notwithstanding other parts of the false-statement law and to offenses committed on or after the law's enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

AR • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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