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Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act

USA119th CongressS-4491| Senate 
| Updated: 5/12/2026
Tim Sheehy

Tim Sheehy

Republican Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (1)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)

Foreign Relations Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act aims to significantly enhance United States diplomatic engagement on international biodefense, biosecurity, and biotechnology matters. It mandates the Secretary of State to advance U.S. foreign policy goals by improving cooperation with allies and partners in these critical areas. This includes prioritizing policy development within NATO , strengthening planning, and evaluating opportunities to expand NATO's capabilities in researching and deploying biotechnology for security purposes, while also promoting adherence to high safety and security standards in biological research among member states. Beyond NATO, the bill directs the Secretary of State to pursue cooperation with other U.S. allies and partners, including major non-NATO allies. This involves exploring collaboration in biotechnology, biosecurity, and biodefense, coordinating on export control policies for dual-use biotechnology items, and working to enforce the Biological Weapons Convention . The Act requires the development of two key strategies: a "NATO Biodefense Strategy" to assess current cooperation, identify gaps, and recommend solutions, and an "International Biotechnology, Biosecurity, and Biodefense Cooperation Strategy" to propose expanded cooperation and assess export control efforts. These strategies, limited to threats from biological agents and toxins, must be submitted in a report to Congress within 270 days, followed by a congressional briefing on significant developments.
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Timeline
Mar 26, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-7653
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 46 - 0.
May 12, 2026
Introduced in Senate
May 12, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  • March 26, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-7653
    Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 46 - 0.


  • May 12, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 12, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Related Bills

  • HR 119-7653: Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act

Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act

USA119th CongressS-4491| Senate 
| Updated: 5/12/2026
The Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act aims to significantly enhance United States diplomatic engagement on international biodefense, biosecurity, and biotechnology matters. It mandates the Secretary of State to advance U.S. foreign policy goals by improving cooperation with allies and partners in these critical areas. This includes prioritizing policy development within NATO , strengthening planning, and evaluating opportunities to expand NATO's capabilities in researching and deploying biotechnology for security purposes, while also promoting adherence to high safety and security standards in biological research among member states. Beyond NATO, the bill directs the Secretary of State to pursue cooperation with other U.S. allies and partners, including major non-NATO allies. This involves exploring collaboration in biotechnology, biosecurity, and biodefense, coordinating on export control policies for dual-use biotechnology items, and working to enforce the Biological Weapons Convention . The Act requires the development of two key strategies: a "NATO Biodefense Strategy" to assess current cooperation, identify gaps, and recommend solutions, and an "International Biotechnology, Biosecurity, and Biodefense Cooperation Strategy" to propose expanded cooperation and assess export control efforts. These strategies, limited to threats from biological agents and toxins, must be submitted in a report to Congress within 270 days, followed by a congressional briefing on significant developments.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Mar 26, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-7653
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 46 - 0.
May 12, 2026
Introduced in Senate
May 12, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  • March 26, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-7653
    Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 46 - 0.


  • May 12, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 12, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Tim Sheehy

Tim Sheehy

Republican Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (1)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)

Foreign Relations Committee

Related Bills

  • HR 119-7653: Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted