Ro Khanna (D-CA)
To authorize the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to support the defense biotechnology supply chain, and for other purposes.
A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill allows the Secretary of Defense to start a program to support the defense biotechnology supply chain. The program focuses on developing and scaling biotechnology research for products like chemicals, fuels, and materials. It aims to make the defense supply chain more resilient and less dependent on foreign sources. The Secretary can work with military labs, academic organizations, and commercial entities. The program is set to end after 10 years unless the President extends it for national security or economic needs.
Yes· 3 of 20
- Scored +8
Does this put more money into scientific research?
Specifically authorizes the scaling and transition of biotechnology research.
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
Opens grant and contract opportunities for commercial entities in biotechnology.
- Scored +6
Would farmers be better off under this?
Promotes the use of next-generation feedstocks, which directly benefits agricultural producers.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what is spent on the military?
The bill authorizes a new spending program for biotechnology supply chains.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Workforce Development: The bill allows for initiatives to support education, training, and workforce development to create a skilled biomanufacturing workforce (Section 1(a)(2)(B)(v)).
-
Local Economic Growth: The program promotes using next-generation feedstocks and processes that support local economic growth (Section 1(a)(2)(D)).
-
Economic Partnerships: The bill enables the government to enter into grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements with non-Federal entities, including commercial entities and research institutions (Section 1(a)(2)(B)(iv)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for people are explicitly mentioned 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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Opens grant and contract opportunities for commercial entities in biotechnology. Would farmers be better off under this? — Promotes the use of next-generation feedstocks, which directly benefits agricultural producers. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Focuses on local economic growth and agricultural feedstocks. Would students be better off under this? — Supports education, training, and workforce development initiatives. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Creates opportunities for education and training in a growing biotech workforce. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Provides professional opportunities in biomanufacturing and research. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Creation of high-skilled technical jobs. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Potential for local economic growth and job creation in underdeveloped areas.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Promotes next-generation feedstocks and processes to support local economic growth, often benefitting rural agricultural areas. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — Invests in the development of bio-based fuels. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Focuses on biologically derived fuels and materials which can be more sustainable than petroleum. Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced? — Aims to transition to biological alternatives for fuels and chemicals.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill supports workforce development and the creation of a skilled biomanufacturing workforce. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Promotes local economic growth through next-generation feedstocks and processes. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Allows contracts and grants with commercial entities for biotechnology research.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Specifically authorizes the scaling and transition of biotechnology research.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — Increases funding for applied biotechnology research and prototyping.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires annual reports to Congress on program activities and partnerships. Does this give the federal government more power? — Expands the authorization of the Secretary of Defense to establish new programs.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — Aims to reduce dependency on foreign supply chains, potentially altering trade dynamics. Does this reduce what is spent on the military? — The bill authorizes a new spending program for biotechnology supply chains.
- 9/8/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2 Cosponsors 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.
Donald DavisDemocrat · North Carolina
John GaramendiDemocrat · California