Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act
Sponsored By: Representative Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
In Committee
Summary
Develops federal standards for DNA synthesis screening and risk management in engineering biology, explicitly including risks from artificial intelligence. It creates a NIST program and a stakeholder consortium to test, standardize, and update screening tools and operational best practices for synthetic nucleic acid procurement.
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- Researchers and labs: Requires measurement research to improve the accuracy, reliability, and effectiveness of nucleic acid synthesis screening and provides technical implementation guidance to make screening work in real settings.
- DNA synthesis providers and customers: Directs the creation of best practices for operational security, access controls, and management of sequence-of-concern databases to guide safe procurement and use of synthetic sequences.
- NIST and federal partners: Charges the NIST Director, in consultation with other agencies, to run the research program, convene a multi-stakeholder consortium, and produce a report summarizing findings within 18 months of the consortium's first meeting.
- Industry, universities, and nonprofits: Establishes a formal consortium to set consensus priorities, update best practices periodically, and produce roadmaps that guide screening tool development.
*Authorizes $5.0 million per year from NIST’s scientific and technical research account for fiscal years 2026–2030 to carry out the nucleic acid screening program.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New standards for DNA synthesis screening
If enacted, NIST would lead research to improve screening of synthetic DNA and RNA. It would set best practices, security controls, and technical guidance, including for risks from using artificial intelligence in biology. NIST would convene industry, universities, nonprofits, and customers to set priorities and roadmaps. The Director would report to two congressional committees within 18 months after the consortium’s first meeting. The bill would authorize $5 million each year for 2026–2030 to fund this work.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
GA • R
Sponsored 4/28/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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