NSCEB Monthly Newsletter
June 2026
In June, we’re recognizing Biotech Month to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the bipartisan House BIOtech Caucus (which now has 62 members!). Keep an eye on NSCEB social media for upcoming highlights of biotech champions on Capitol Hill.
Our District Spotlight Series has kicked off, and we are extending it through the summer. See below for additional information on hosting an event in your area.
In Congress, bipartisan, bicameral legislation continues to take shape with exciting new advances in May. Check the ‘Legislative News’ section for all the good details.
Caitlin
ICYMI: AI and National Security Leaders Join Together to Support Gene Synthesis Screening Legislation
In an open letter published this week, 69 AI and national security leaders, including the CEOs of Anthropic, OpenAI, and DeepMind, joined together to urge Congress to act swiftly to make mandatory nucleic acid synthesis screening and recordkeeping. They argue that as AI and biotechnology converge and requests for synthetic DNA have increased, screening those requests for potential sequences of concern and recording individual orders is critical for maintaining biosecurity and deterring potential misuse. Read the letter here, or media coverage here and here.
NSCEB by the Numbers
As of June 1, 2026:
- 35 NSCEB recommendations have seen bipartisan legislative action in either the House or the Senate.
- 27 standalone bipartisan bills with NSCEB recommendations have been introduced in either the House or Senate.
- 26 provisions that reflect NSCEB recommendations, either in full or in part, have been signed into law.
- 9 NSCEB recommendations included in White House executive actions.
- 22 states visited on the Biotech Across America Roadshow.
- 400+ organizations have participated in Roadshow events.
EXTENDED! The Biotech Across America District Spotlight Series
The window to host an event as part of the Biotech Across America District Spotlight series is extended through the summer.
From now through the end of August, the Commission invites you to host gatherings with stakeholders in your area to discuss your region’s successes, challenges, and how federal policy might better support the ecosystem’s future growth. Commission staff will work with you to design the event, including content and communications support. If you are interested in organizing or participating in an event in your area, please email ideas@biotech.senate.gov.
Legislative News
Last month, biotech champions on the Hill introduced 5 new bipartisan bills the reflect NSCEB recommendations. Lawmakers also included key provisions in the FY27 House appropriations bills the reflect NSCEB recommendations.
Federal Biotechnology Workforce Assessment Act (H.R. 8930) – Introduced on May 20, this bill would direct the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to coordinate with relevant federal agency heads to formally define the biotechnology workforce and assess both current and future federal workforce needs.
House Sponsors: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Rep. Richard McCormick (R-GA-07), Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX-17)
Learn more here.
Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act (H.R. 8938) – Introduced on May 20, this bill would direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support biotechnology workforce pathways and alignment with federal research investments.
House Sponsors: Rep. Richard McCormick (R-GA-07), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA-17)
Learn more here.
Bioindustrial Infrastructure for Open Scale-up, Commercialization, and Accelerated Launch Ecosystems (BIO-SCALE) Act (H.R.8918) – Introduced on May 20, this bill would establish three or more product-agnostic, nonprofit, pre-commercial scale-up facilities for non-pharmaceutical biotechnologies.
House Sponsors: Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN-04), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06)
Learn more here.
Standards and Calibration for American Leadership in Engineering Biology (SCALE) Biology Act (H.R.8981) – Introduced on May 21, this bill would establish a dedicated biometrology research program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to lead the development of standardized measurements, guidelines, methodologies, procedures, and processes for engineering biology.
House Sponsors: Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-MD-06), Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Del. James Moylan (R-GU-At Large)
Learn more here.
Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act (S.4491) – Introduced on May 12, this bill would direct the Department of State to enhance diplomatic engagement on international biotechnology and biosecurity with allies and partners, including coordinating on export control policies.
Senate Sponsors: Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Learn more here.
FY27 House Appropriations Biotech Provisions (Full Committee Markups)
The House Appropriations Committee is continuing its FY27 appropriations process. Each bill includes two parts, bill text and report language. Bill text moves on to the House floor, while report language is given the weight of law when the bill passes out of committee.
You can see all FY27 appropriations provisions that reflect NSCEB recommendations here.
This month, the committee marked up several appropriations bills. Key biotech provisions in report language include:
The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies report directs the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy to provide a report within 120 days on the necessary resources needed to establish a National Biotechnology Initiative at the Executive Office of the President. Separately, the report also encourages the National Institute of Standards and Technology to expand U.S. leadership in the development of international norms and standards for biotechnology.
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies report directs the Department of Energy to support research and development activities that would expand, improve, and create bioindustrial scale-up user facilities; develop standard operating procedures and educational resources; upgrade equipment and infrastructure; and support collaborations with academia and industry to accelerate biotechnology commercialization efforts.
Monthly Legislative Spotlight
Each month we’ll highlight a different piece of legislation reflecting key NSCEB recommendations. We encourage you to continue using your voice to advocate for these key policy ideas.
Independence Investment Fund Act (H.R. 6412)
Summary: The Independence Investment Fund Act (H.R.6412) would establish an independent investment fund at the Department of Treasury to make equity investments in technology companies that enhance U.S. national and economic security. Through strategic investments in high-potential areas, the fund would help seed new private investment in critical and emerging technologies.
Background: A lack of patient capital investment in biotechnology is shrinking America’s share of the global biotechnology market and eroding our innovation edge over China. Absent targeted government action, emerging technologies that are critical for U.S. national security will not move from lab to market. A government-backed, private-run investment fund would help combat these headwinds by making smart investments in high-priority national security technology areas, including biotechnology, expanding beyond strictly defense and intelligence applications. This fund would act as a powerful government signal to private investors about the importance of a technology, leading to a “crowding-in” of private capital to scale up national security technology products.
Legislative Details:
House Sponsors: Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX-17), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05), Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-MD-06), Rep. Don Davis (D-NC-1)
Senate Sponsors: Still available for introduction
Learn more here.
Biotech Across America Roadshow
Recent Roadshow Stops
New York City, New York – May 14
In New York City, NSCEB Executive Director Caitlin Frazer visited Neion Bio for a presentation and demonstration of the company’s unique technology before participating in a roundtable discussion on supply chain security, access to scale-up facilities, and workforce retention. At the Endpoints US Pharma and Biotech Summit, Caitlin joined a panel discussion exploring how the FDA could respond to the rise of China’s biotechnology sector, as well as the role health and safety regulations play in U.S. national security. Learn more here.
Phoenix, Arizona – May 13-15
The NSCEB traveled to Arizona to attend a summit hosted by the Southwest Mission Acceleration Center and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. Staff visited sites in Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe, including the Phoenix Bioscience Core Facility, the ASU Biodesign Institute, Mayo Clinic’s Discovery Oasis, and the Bridgestone Biorubber Process Research Center. Learn more here.
Little Rock, Arkansas – May 29
A strong agricultural innovation ecosystem makes Arkansas a growing hub for biotechnology. Commissioner Paul Arcangeli visited Little Rock to learn from agriculture, academic, and state and Congressional officials about how biotechnology in the Natural State is contributing to U.S. national security. After beginning the visit with remarks by Representative Bruce Westerman, the group held a series of roundtable discussions spanning biotech in academia to workforce development and agriculture innovation, and Commissioner Arcangeli then visited sites in the Stuttgart Corridor in the heart of America’s rice producing region. Learn more here.
NSCEB in the News
The American Biotech Blueprint: Senator Todd Young on Biodiversity as National Security | Grow Everything Biotech Podcast
Senator Todd Young joins the Grow Everything podcast to discuss the critical intersection of biotechnology and national security, sharing how his military background, Indiana roots, and role as chairman of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology shaped his understanding of the bioeconomy as a strategic imperative.
House bill would enlist OPM in federal biotech workforce assessment | FedScoop
New bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Khanna and McCormick join an April bill from Rep. McBride on U.S. biotechnology talent development and workforce pipeline.
Congress Just Made Biotech Talent a National Security Issue. Now Employers Need To Catch Up.| BioBuzz
Three new bipartisan bills reframe the biotech workforce as a national security asset. Now it’s on employers to stop treating talent like a line item and start building the pipelines the industry actually runs on.
OpenAI is proud to support Senators Cotton and Klobuchar’s bipartisan Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act | LinkedIn Post
This bill reflects components of NSCEB recommendation 4.4a and would establish a more modern and nimble biosecurity framework for the federal government.
NSCEB Wins! Army establishing technology accelerator for biotechnology | Inside Defense
The Army…plans to establish a technology accelerator with the goal of linking the private sector and the government with “national High-Performance Computing resources” to create a continuous innovation hub… The innovation hub will accelerate the prototyping of biotechnology capabilities and innovations, with a particular focus on medical rapid response priorities.
June Look Ahead
- June 2: EBRC Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC
- June 4-7: ASM Microbe Conference, Washington DC
- June 9: American Alliance for Biomanufacturing Symposium, Washington DC
- June 16-17: Reindustrialize Summit, Detroit, MI
- June 22-25: BIO Annual Convention and Roadshow, San Diego, CA
- June 26: House BIOtech Caucus, One year anniversary
About NSCEB: The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a time-limited, high-impact legislative branch advisory entity whose purpose is to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies for U.S. national security and to prepare the United States for the bioindustrial revolution. The Commission published a comprehensive report in April 2025, including recommendations for action by Congress and the federal government. The bipartisan Commission is composed of Congressionally-appointed Commissioners with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as experts from industry, academia, and government. For more information about the Commission and to view the report, visit: biotech.senate.gov.
Contacts:
NSCEB: press@biotech.senate.gov
