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Biological Weapons Policy Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-2912| Senate 
| Updated: 9/30/2021
James E. Risch

James E. Risch

Republican Senator

Idaho

Foreign Relations Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Biological Weapons Policy Act of 2021 This bill modifies the Department of State's authorities related to biological and virological weapons and addresses related issues. The State Department's authority to engage in certain activities (e.g., conduct research and provide grants) related to detecting and reducing certain weapons shall include activities directed at biological and virological weapons. The bill prohibits using federal funds for research that increases the pathogenicity, contagiousness, or transmissibility of viruses or bacteria if the research involves a foreign entity subject to the jurisdiction of certain countries, including China and Russia. The President must carry out certain activities related to China's compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention, including engaging with other governments about concerns about such compliance. The U.S. representative to the United Nations (UN) must advocate to bar representatives from certain countries, including China and Russia, from serving in leadership positions in any UN agency or program with a nexus to certain subjects, such as global health and biosecurity. The U.S. mission to certain countries must complete an assessment of whether each U.S. government-supported project involving life sciences dual-use research of concern aligns with U.S. national interests. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on (1) U.S. government authorities and processes related to cooperation with other nations in life sciences research that could be weaponized or pose dual-use concerns; and (2) coordination between federal agencies responsible for public health, biomedical research, and national security in the assessment of the security implications of cooperation with other nations on life sciences research.
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Timeline
Sep 30, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Sep 30, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  • September 30, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 30, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

International Affairs

Animal and plant healthArms control and nonproliferationAsiaBiological and life sciencesChemical and biological weaponsChinaCongressional oversightDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadEuropeFood supply, safety, and labelingForeign aid and international reliefGovernment studies and investigationsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesHealth promotion and preventive careHealth technology, devices, suppliesInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationInternational law and treatiesInternational organizations and cooperationIranMedical researchMiddle EastMilitary civil functionsMilitary procurement, research, weapons developmentNorth KoreaNuclear weaponsResearch administration and fundingRussiaSyriaTerrorismUnited NationsWorld health

Biological Weapons Policy Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-2912| Senate 
| Updated: 9/30/2021
Biological Weapons Policy Act of 2021 This bill modifies the Department of State's authorities related to biological and virological weapons and addresses related issues. The State Department's authority to engage in certain activities (e.g., conduct research and provide grants) related to detecting and reducing certain weapons shall include activities directed at biological and virological weapons. The bill prohibits using federal funds for research that increases the pathogenicity, contagiousness, or transmissibility of viruses or bacteria if the research involves a foreign entity subject to the jurisdiction of certain countries, including China and Russia. The President must carry out certain activities related to China's compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention, including engaging with other governments about concerns about such compliance. The U.S. representative to the United Nations (UN) must advocate to bar representatives from certain countries, including China and Russia, from serving in leadership positions in any UN agency or program with a nexus to certain subjects, such as global health and biosecurity. The U.S. mission to certain countries must complete an assessment of whether each U.S. government-supported project involving life sciences dual-use research of concern aligns with U.S. national interests. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on (1) U.S. government authorities and processes related to cooperation with other nations in life sciences research that could be weaponized or pose dual-use concerns; and (2) coordination between federal agencies responsible for public health, biomedical research, and national security in the assessment of the security implications of cooperation with other nations on life sciences research.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Sep 30, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Sep 30, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  • September 30, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 30, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
James E. Risch

James E. Risch

Republican Senator

Idaho

Foreign Relations Committee

International Affairs

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Animal and plant healthArms control and nonproliferationAsiaBiological and life sciencesChemical and biological weaponsChinaCongressional oversightDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadEuropeFood supply, safety, and labelingForeign aid and international reliefGovernment studies and investigationsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesHealth promotion and preventive careHealth technology, devices, suppliesInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationInternational law and treatiesInternational organizations and cooperationIranMedical researchMiddle EastMilitary civil functionsMilitary procurement, research, weapons developmentNorth KoreaNuclear weaponsResearch administration and fundingRussiaSyriaTerrorismUnited NationsWorld health