Andrea Salinas (D-OR)
Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act
To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to support nucleic acid screening, and for other purposes.
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act seeks to amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act. This amendment focuses on supporting nucleic acid screening through measurement research. The Director is tasked with developing best practices, guidelines, and technical standards for risk management in engineering biology and biomanufacturing, including risks from artificial intelligence. This includes improving the accuracy and reliability of screening for nucleic acid synthesis. To achieve this, a consortium of various stakeholders will be convened to develop best practices and roadmaps. The Act also authorizes specific funding for these activities over several fiscal years.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +5
Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak?
The bill enhances biosecurity and screening for nucleic acid synthesis to prevent biological risks.
- Scored +5
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill authorizes $5,000,000 annually through 2031 for measurement research and biosecurity standards.
- Scored +2
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?
The bill addresses risks associated with artificial intelligence within the context of biological security.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Biosecurity Standards: The bill directs the Director to carry out research to improve technical standards for biosecurity measures related to nucleic acid synthesis (Section 2, subsection (b)(1)). This could lead to better security through improved testing accuracy, efficacy, and reliability (Section 2, subsection (b)(1)(A)).
-
Enhanced Operational Security: The provisions include developing best practices for security and access controls to manage sequence-of-concern databases (Section 2, subsection (b)(1)(B)). This aims to support effective and secure screening processes (Section 2, subsection (b)(1)(C)).
-
Risk Management in Emerging Tech: The act adds requirements for risk management associated with engineering biology, biomanufacturing, and the use of artificial intelligence (Section 2, amending subsection (a)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — The bill enhances biosecurity and screening for nucleic acid synthesis to prevent biological risks. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Improved biosecurity in nucleic acid synthesis helps safeguard the biological foundations of healthcare and medicine.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill authorizes $5,000,000 annually through 2031 for measurement research and biosecurity standards.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill supports biomanufacturing and engineering biology industries through standardized risk management. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides technical standards and best practices that can help industries manage biosecurity risks.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill addresses risks associated with artificial intelligence within the context of biological security.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would union members be better off under this? — The establishment of technical standards and risk management can create more stable and secure industrial environments.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Director to submit a report summarizing the findings of the stakeholder consortium to Congress.
- 7/21/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 7/20/2026
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4666)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4666)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3029.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4666-4667)
- Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 7/16/2026
- Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-751.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 654.
- 4/30/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/29/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/28/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard McCormickRepublican · Georgia
Sarah McBrideDemocrat · Delaware
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York