Bill Summary
The **Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act** aims to strengthen U.S. diplomatic efforts in international biodefense, biosecurity, and biotechnology. The legislation mandates the Secretary of State to collaborate with allies, particularly NATO members, to develop policies and strategies that improve biodefense capabilities against biological threats. Key provisions include advocating for enhanced biodefense policies, coordinating export controls for biotechnology that could pose national security risks, and promoting best practices in biological research safety. The Act also requires the development of two comprehensive strategies focusing on NATO cooperation and international collaboration in biodefense, with reports and briefings to Congress on the progress and relevant global developments in the field. Overall, the Act seeks to bolster the U.S. and its allies' preparedness and response to biological threats.
Possible Impacts
The "Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement Act" could affect people in various ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Public Health and Safety**: By enhancing international cooperation on biosecurity and biodefense, this legislation could lead to improved global health surveillance systems. This means that outbreaks of biological threats, such as pandemics or bioterrorism, could be detected and managed more effectively, ultimately protecting public health. Citizens might benefit from quicker responses to biological threats, reducing the risk of widespread illness.
2. **Research and Biotechnology Standards**: The Act could establish higher safety and security standards for biological research, impacting scientists and researchers. Institutions working with biotechnology would need to comply with these standards, leading to safer laboratory practices. This could foster trust in scientific research among the public, as innovations in biotechnology can be more reliably conducted without the risk of misuse or accidents.
3. **Diplomatic Relations and Security**: The focus on enhancing diplomatic engagement and cooperation with allies may lead to stronger international relationships, particularly in the context of security against biological threats. Citizens may experience a sense of increased national security as the U.S. works collaboratively with NATO and other partners to prevent and respond to biological incidents. This could also influence national defense spending and priorities, affecting job markets in the defense and biosecurity sectors.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7653 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7653
To enhance diplomatic engagement on international biotechnology and
biosecurity matters.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 23, 2026
Mr. Self (for himself and Mr. Keating) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance diplomatic engagement on international biotechnology and
biosecurity matters.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Biodefense Diplomacy Enhancement
Act''.
SEC. 2. ENHANCEMENT OF DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL
BIODEFENSE, BIOSECURITY, AND BIOTECHNOLOGY MATTERS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall advance United States
foreign policy goals to improve cooperation in the field of
international biodefense, biosecurity, and biotechnology matters with
United States allies and partners, including by carrying out the
activities described in this section.
(b) Policy Development.--The Secretary of State, acting through the
Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security if the
Secretary so delegates, in coordination with the Under Secretary for
Political Affairs and the Permanent Representative of the United States
to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), shall pursue enhanced
biodefense cooperation within NATO, including by--
(1) advocating for the prioritization of policy development
within NATO relating to biodefense, including in the areas of
biotechnology, biosurveillance, and countermeasures in the
field of biological threats;
(2) identifying and evaluating opportunities to strengthen
NATO planning, policies, and activities relating to biodefense
and biotechnology;
(3) pursuing potential revisions or amendments to the NATO
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defence Policy
to further enhance biodefense efforts in NATO;
(4) coordinating with NATO member states to prioritize and
implement measures described in the NATO Chemical, Biological,
Radiological, and Nuclear Defence Policy;
(5) strengthening NATO interoperability and allied forces
capabilities in resilience, detection, attribution, emergency
response, and recovery in the event of a weaponized biological
attack;
(6) evaluating opportunities for expanded NATO capabilities
to research, develop, and deploy biotechnology for
international security purposes; and
(7) promoting adherence by NATO member states to the
highest standards of safety and security in biological
research.
(c) Cooperation With United States Allies and Partners.--The
Secretary of State, acting through the Under Secretary for Arms Control
and International Security if the Secretary so delegates, in
coordination with the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, shall
pursue international biotechnology, biosecurity, and biodefense
cooperation with United States allies and partners, including--
(1) exploring potential areas of cooperation with countries
that are major non-NATO allies in biotechnology, biosecurity,
and biodefense matters;
(2) coordinating with allied and partner countries,
including NATO countries, on formulation of export control
policies in the field of biotechnology, including items that
may be identified as dual-use items that would pose a
substantial risk to national security if used for military end-
uses, such as items that could enable the development of
bioweapons;
(3) promoting adherence by United States allies and
partners to the highest standards of safety and security in
biological research; and
(4) collaborating on efforts to enforce the Biological
Weapons Convention.
(d) Strategies.--
(1) NATO biodefense strategy.--The Secretary of State,
acting through the Under Secretary for Arms Control and
International Security if the Secretary so delegates, in
coordination with the Under Secretary for Political Affairs,
shall develop a strategy, to be known as the ``NATO Biodefense
Strategy'', which shall include--
(A) an assessment of current cooperation between
the United States and NATO member states in
biotechnology, biosurveillance, biological threat
countermeasures, and other biodefense capabilities;
(B) an identification of strategic planning and
deployment gaps in NATO relating to biotechnology and
biodefense;
(C) recommendations to address gaps identified
under subparagraph (B), including through coordination
with NATO member states, capability development, and
coordination mechanisms; and
(D) an assessment of current Department of State
cooperation with other United States Government
agencies in biodefense, biotechnology, biosecurity,
biosurveillance, and biological threat countermeasures.
(2) International biotechnology, biosecurity, and
biodefense cooperation strategy.--The Secretary of State,
acting through the Under Secretary for Arms Control and
International Security if the Secretary so delegates, in
coordination with the Under Secretary for Political Affairs,
shall develop a strategy, to be known as the ``International
Biotechnology, Biosecurity, and Biodefense Cooperation
Strategy'', which shall include--
(A) proposals for commitments or agreements under
which the United States and United States allies and
partners, including countries that are major non-NATO
allies, may expand cooperation on international
security matters relating to biotechnology,
biosecurity, and biodefense;
(B) an assessment of the feasibility and
effectiveness of coordinating export control efforts,
in addition to existing export control regimes such as
the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group,
related to biotechnology items that may pose national
security risks if used for military end uses; and
(C) an overview of nonproliferation, anti-
terrorism, demining, and related (NADR) programs and
funds for the purposes of enhancing capabilities and
capacities to address international biosecurity threats
and recommendations for the use of Department of State
programs and funds, including NADR programs and funds,
to expand cooperation outlined in subparagraph (A) and
increase the effectiveness of export control efforts
identified in subparagraph (B).
(3) Limitation.--The strategies developed under paragraphs
(1) and (2) shall be limited to addressing threats posed by
biological agents and toxins as such terms are defined in
section 178 of title 18, United States Code.
(e) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting
through the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International
Security if the Secretary so delegates, shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the
strategies required by subsection (d).
(2) Form.--The report required by this subsection shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified
annex if submitted separately from the unclassified portion.
(f) Congressional Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Arms Control and
International Security shall provide a briefing to the appropriate
congressional committees in response to significant developments
relating to--
(1) the contents of the report required by subsection (e);
and
(2) other material developments in biotechnology and
biosecurity globally that may affect United States national
security interests.
(g) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of the Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(2) the term ``biodefense'' means actions to counter
biological threats, reduce risks, and prepare for, respond to,
and recover from biological incidents;
(3) the term ``biological threat'' means entities involved
with, or a situation involving, a biological hazard that can
potentially cause a biological incident;
(4) the term ``biosecurity'' means policies, practices, and
controls that reduce the risk of loss, theft, misuse, diversion
of, or intentional unauthorized release of biological
materials;
(5) the term ``biosurveillance'' means the process of
gathering, integrating, interpreting, and communicating
essential information and indications related to all-hazard
threats or disease activity affecting human, animal, plant, and
environmental health to achieve early detection and provide
early warning and contribute to overall situational awareness
of the health aspects of a biological incident to support and
enhance decision-making at all levels;
(6) the term ``biotechnology'' means the use of biological
processes, organisms, or systems for manufacturing, research,
or medical purposes, including genetic engineering, synthetic
biology, and bioinformatics; and
(7) the term ``countries that are major non-NATO allies''
means countries designated pursuant to section 517 of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321k).
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