Bill > HR7653

This bill, the Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act, aims to strengthen the United States' diplomatic efforts concerning international biotechnology, biosecurity, and biodefense. It directs the Secretary of State to work with allies and partners to improve cooperation in these areas, specifically by enhancing biodefense collaboration within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This includes advocating for NATO to prioritize policy development on biological threats, strengthening NATO's planning and capabilities for responding to biological attacks, and promoting high safety and security standards in biological research among member states. The bill also calls for cooperation with other allies and partners, including major non-NATO allies, on biotechnology and biodefense matters, and emphasizes coordinating export control policies for biotechnology items that could pose national security risks, such as those that could be used to develop bioweapons. To guide these efforts, the Secretary of State is required to develop two strategies: a "NATO Biodefense Strategy" and an "International Biotechnology, Biosecurity, and Biodefense Cooperation Strategy," which will assess current cooperation, identify gaps, and propose recommendations. These strategies will be submitted to Congress in a report, and the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security will provide congressional briefings on significant developments in biotechnology and biosecurity. The bill defines key terms like "biodefense" (actions to counter biological threats), "biosecurity" (policies to prevent misuse of biological materials), and "biotechnology" (using biological processes for various purposes).

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7653/all-info