NSCEB Monthly Newsletter
November 2026
As Congress prepares to return to Washington for the final stretch of work this year, you know we’re ready to maximize every opportunity. We continue to see biotech policy as a bipartisan, bicameral priority for members who want to create jobs all over the country, secure our supply chains, and develop innovations to benefit all Americans. Join us in this final stretch to make the case to our lawmakers: we have time to act (right now!) and no time to wait.
We continue to make progress, together. I’m proud to report that our numbers (see below) continue to grow, especially on the heels of various Administration actions over the recess.
And if you want to be a part of it in person, there’s still space left for our event with STATION DC on November 17th. Find more information and the registration below.
-Caitlin
NSCEB by the Numbers
As of November 1, 2026:
- 42 NSCEB recommendations have seen bipartisan legislative action in either the House or the Senate.
- 37 standalone bipartisan bills with NSCEB recommendations have been introduced in either the House or Senate.
- 29 provisions that reflect 26 NSCEB recommendations, either in full or in part, have been signed into law.
- 11 NSCEB recommendations included in White House executive actions.
- 34 states visited on the Biotech Across America Roadshow.
- 500+ organizations have participated in Roadshow events.
EVENT! NSCEB + STATION DC: Agenda and Registration
On November 17, NSCEB and STATION DC will host “After NSCEB: What Comes Next for U.S. Biotech Policy,” bringing together leaders from government, industry, startups, and academia. With the Commission preparing to sunset in December 2026, the event will tackle a fundamental question: With more than 80% of the Action Plan’s recommendations moving forward but not yet fully implemented, how do we sustain momentum in the next Congress and beyond to secure U.S. leadership in biotechnology? Registration is still open and the agenda is now available.
See the full agenda and register to attend here.
NEW! Securing America’s Food Supply with Biotechnology
Last month, the NSCEB published new analysis exploring how biofertilizers and biostimulants for agricultural production can reduce America’s dependence on vulnerable supply chains for conventional chemical fertilizers. But regulatory uncertainty, challenges in domestic manufacturing and investment, and a lack of data on performance of these products limit the domestic use of biofertilizers and biostimulants. The NSCEB’s new analysis identifies policy strategies for overcoming these barriers, including relieving regulatory ambiguity, supporting innovation, and addressing manufacturing challenges.
Learn more here.
ICYMI: NSCEB Statement on the Future of Science Announcements
In October, the White House and several agencies announced new initiatives to strengthen American science and innovation. Many of the initiatives reflect NSCEB recommendations. As biotechnology converges with emerging technologies, American scientific leadership will be essential to our future economic and national security.
Learn more here.
ICYMI: NSCEB Statement on New FDA Rare Disease Framework Initiative
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a new approach to rare disease regulation that will change how American patients access cutting-edge treatments for rare diseases. The new initiative reflects several NSCEB recommendations.
Learn more here.
Read the NSCEB’s Bringing Rare Disease Treatments to Patients issue paper here.
ICYMI: NSCEB Statement on New Proposed Outbound Investment Rule
The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently announced a proposed rule that would increase oversight of U.S. outbound investments in Chinese biotechnologies that could pose a national security risk. The rule reflects an NSCEB recommendation to ensure American money isn’t being spent on boosting our adversaries’ biotechnology innovation.
Learn more here.
Legislative News
New legislative draft published
NSCEB continues to publish discussion drafts for select legislation that has yet to be introduced. This month, draft legislation to authorize Biotechnology Grand Challenges was published here. This bill would direct the President to initiate and fund two grand research challenges, one to make biology predictably engineerable, and a second to develop novel biomanufacturing technologies to make scale-up predictable, rapid, and cost-competitive.
Biotech Across America Roadshow
Recent Roadshow Stops
Indianapolis, Indiana – October 8
NSCEB Chair Senator Todd Young welcomed Vice Chair Michelle Rozo and Commissioner Dov Zakheim to the University of Indiana to explore the state’s biotech ecosystem and discuss how public private partnerships are growing the industry in Indiana and across the country.
Puerto Rico – October 16
NSCEB staff presented the Commission’s Action Plan to local biotech leaders at INDUNIV’s annual legislative forum. Additionally, staff learned about Puerto Rico’s strategies to expand its research and development ecosystem and toured its brand-new incubator space at the University of Puerto Rico’s Molecular Science Research Center.
Tampa, Florida – October 22
The NSCEB visited the University of South Florida Research Park to learn more about the innovation campus expansion by the Moffitt Cancer Center in partnership with Speros.
Minneapolis, Minnesota – October 26
Minneapolis is home to BioMADE headquarters and the future Maple Grove biomanufacturing facility. NSCEB staff joined staff from Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office to visit the Maple Grove site and discuss current efforts to expand BioMADE’s Pilot Plant Network to fill the gap for pre-commercial biomanufacturing capacity here in the U.S.
Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin – October 26
In Milwaukee, the NSCEB attended the Wisconsin BioHealth Summit, hearing from leaders across the state about Wisconsin’s leadership in healthcare innovation, emphasizing their role as a Tech Hub. In Madison, NSCEB staff joined Senator Tammy Baldwin and leaders from the University of Wisconsin – Madison to demonstrate how the university, industry leaders, and government have built public-private partnerships that strengthen the overall biotech ecosystem across the state.
Learn more here.
NSCEB in the News
The Washingtonian | Most Powerful Women in Washington 2026
NSCEB Vice Chair Michelle Rozo and Commissioner Representative Stephanie Bice are among this year’s 300 most influential women in Washington who are shaping government, business, the arts, law, media, education, and nonprofits
The Hill | Make universities limit ties to China — and fund US STEM students instead
NSCEB Commissioner Dov Zakheim describes why the War Department announcement that thirty universities have “fully mitigated” their relationships with “foreign entities of concern” — most notably Chinese academic institutions — is a welcome development.
Accelerate Science Now | a podcast from SeedAI | EP8: Writing a Biotech Action Plan Congress Can Act On with Caitlin Frazer (NSCEB)
Caitlin joins host Zhane Yamin to discuss the NSCEB’s report and its work as the Commission’s sunset approaches.
EBRC in Translation | a podcast from EBRC | A National Strategy for a Biotechnological Future w/ Caitlin Frazer
In this episode of EBRC In Translation, Caitlin discusses her policy-focused career path and the commission’s creation to help Congress address slipping U.S. biotech leadership.
In Business Madison | Sen. Tammy Baldwin: UW-Madison poised to lead biotech sector
The United States is in a race with other countries to lead biotech research — and Wisconsin is at the forefront of that competition.
Axios | Trump administration proposes new curbs on China biotech deals
The Trump administration officially made biotechnology a national security concern late Thursday, proposing to subject certain deals with Chinese life sciences companies to new screening requirements or prohibit them altogether.
Agri Pulse | Agri-Pulse Daybreak Podcast
The NSCEB’s recently released biofertilizer paper illustrates how American farmers and growers can harness biotechnology for U.S. food security.
2026 Look Ahead
- November 13-14: iGEM
- November 17: STATION DC and NSCEB Event
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
