Matt Van Epps (R-TN)
Web of Biological Data Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
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
The Web of Biological Data Act of 2026 requires the Secretary of Energy to provide a grant to a National Laboratory to create a centralized data resource called the "Web of Biological Data." This resource is designed to help biological research by using advanced computational methods like artificial intelligence. The act establishes a research and development program for managing biological data and creates an advisory board to oversee the project. The rollout happens in two phases, starting with testing specific data subtypes and eventually expanding access to United States researchers. It also includes requirements for cybersecurity safeguards and independent assessments.
Yes· 3 of 20
- Scored +8
Does this put more money into scientific research?
Provides substantial funding for biological data curation and the use of AI in research.
- Scored +7
Does this put more money into medical research?
Directly establishes a research and development program for biological data science.
- Scored +6
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?
Requires tiered cybersecurity safeguards and biannual independent assessments for biological data.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The act authorizes over $400 million in new spending for grants and program implementation.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill authorizes significant new federal spending for the Web of Biological Data.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Easier Access to Research Data: The Web will serve as a single point of entry for researchers to access various biological data sources, particularly those funded by the Federal Government (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Improved Data Quality: The resource will use metrics and metadata to show data quality, including how complete and usable the data is (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
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Advancement of AI in Biology: The act establishes a research and development program to improve how biological data is generated, stored, and managed to enable AI and other advanced computational methods (Section 2(b)(1)(A) and (B)).
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Enhanced Data Security: The bill requires tiered cybersecurity safeguards and access controls to protect biological data assets (Section 2(b)(2)(C)).
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User-Friendly Design: The interface will be built using human-centered design principles to optimize the user experience (Section 2(e)(1)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Data Sharing: The Secretary may limit access to the Web for adversarial countries or countries that do not participate in reciprocal data sharing (Section 2(e)(1)(D)).
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Potential for Misuse of Data: While safeguards are required, the bill acknowledges the need for protections to prevent the misuse of sensitive biological data (Section 2(f)(2)(G)).
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 students be better off under this? — Provides a centralized resource for students conducting biological research. Would business owners be better off under this? — Biotech business owners benefit from better access to high-quality research data. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Creates opportunities for researchers and students in AI and biotechnology. Would children be better off under this? — Potential for future medical breakthroughs stemming from biological research. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Potential for medical advancements. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Potential for medical advancements.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — Directly establishes a research and development program for biological data science. Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — A centralized biological data resource is critical for rapid response to emerging pathogens. Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — Improved biological data resources may accelerate drug discovery and reduce long-term development costs. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Long-term improvements in biological research often translate to better medical treatments and access.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Provides substantial funding for biological data curation and the use of AI in research. Does this give people more control over their personal data? — Implements tiered access controls and adheres to existing privacy and informed consent laws.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Creates a centralized, single point of entry for federally funded research data. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — Explicitly states it will not supersede privacy or informed consent requirements. Does this give the federal government more power? — Expands the role of the Secretary of Energy in managing biological data across agencies.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — Requires tiered cybersecurity safeguards and biannual independent assessments for biological data. Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — Encourages partnerships with international allies for data sharing and optimization.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Accelerating biological research and AI integration can lead to breakthroughs with significant economic value. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Small biotech firms can benefit from centralized, high-quality data access that was previously only available to larger entities. Is this likely to create jobs? — Investment in National Laboratories and R&D programs typically creates high-tech research and engineering jobs. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The act authorizes over $400 million in new spending for grants and program implementation. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill authorizes significant new federal spending for the Web of Biological Data.
- 7/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/11/2026
- 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.
Jake AuchinclossDemocrat · Massachusetts
James BairdRepublican · Indiana