# 119-s-854: Risky Research Review Act

119-s-854, Risky Research Review Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY] (R-KY); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-854
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-854
- Congress: 119
- Title: Risky Research Review Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-03-05
- Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY] (R-KY)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Creates an independent, binding Life Sciences Research Security Board** that would review whether federally funded life‑sciences projects are high‑risk or dual‑use. The Board would have explicit powers to require information, review classified work, set containment and biosafety conditions, and run expedited reviews for emergencies. - Researchers and institutions: Would need to disclose participation in high‑risk work and could face mandatory pre‑award and ongoing review. Projects deemed high‑risk could receive conditions, recusal requirements, or be denied federal funding. - Federal agencies and funders: Would be bound by the Board's determinations and could be compelled to provide classified or protected records for review. The Board could set binding biosafety and containment standards for awards. - Oversight, staffing, and transparency: Would be a nine‑member presidentially appointed Board with an Executive Director and up to 25 staff, require security clearances, publish annual public reports with a classified annex, provide quarterly briefings to two congressional committees, and be subject to GAO audit.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI), 2025-03-05T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Stricter penalties and reporting: cost, medium. If enacted, agencies must refer entities that knowingly lie or fail to report to suspension and debarment. The Board would refer agency employees who knowingly miss duties to inspectors general. Agency leaders must discipline employees who knowingly break rules and may permanently revoke security c…
- Board review can pause research: mixed, high. If enacted, the Board would have binding power to review proposed or ongoing federally funded life‑sciences work. Agencies would have to notify the Board and the Board must decide within 120 days after notification. The Board could review classified materials, set safety and personnel controls, and…
- New federal life sciences board: mixed, high. If enacted, this bill would create a Life Sciences Research Security Board in the executive branch. The Board would get $30,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035. The Board must publish its review rules within 180 days after its first members are appointed. It must begin doing review…
- New grant and reporting rules: mixed, medium. If enacted, agencies that fund life‑sciences research would have to set up processes to identify high‑risk proposals and send those proposals to the Board. Agencies must post preaward and prepayment rules within 180 days after the Board issues its process and must notify the Board 30 days before an…

## Related bills

- 119-sconres-39: A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2027 and setting forth the appropriate budgetar…
- 119-s-861: Disaster Assistance Simplification Act
- 119-s-952: A bill to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide a uniform 8-digit subheading number for all whiskies.
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.

## Sources
- [119-s-854 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/854)

## Related
- [119-sconres-39: A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sconres-39)
- [119-s-861: Disaster Assistance Simplification Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-861)
- [119-s-952: A bill to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-952)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-854 (as of 2026-04-21).