National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology
{{Short description|US legislative commission}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB)
| type = Commission
| formed = {{start date and age|2022}}
| chief1_name = Todd Young
| chief1_position = Chairman
| parent_department = United States Department of Defense
| website = {{URL|https://www.biotech.senate.gov/ |Official website}}
}}
The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) is a bipartisan U.S. legislative commission established by Congress in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.{{Cite web |title=Statement by the President on S. 1605, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 |date=27 December 2021|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/27/statement-by-the-president-on-s-1605-the-national-defense-authorization-act-for-fiscal-year-2022/}}
The NSCEB reviews how emerging biotechnology affects U.S. Department of Defense activities and matters of national security. It was charged with submitting an interim report within one year and a final unclassified report within two years, including recommendations for Congress and the federal government.{{Cite web |title=Armed Services Committees Leadership Announces Selections for National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology {{!}} United States Committee on Armed Services |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/press-releases/armed-services-committees-leadership-announces-selections-for-national-security-commission-on-emerging-biotechnology |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=www.armed-services.senate.gov |date=17 March 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Sen Todd |date=2024-11-13 |title=Age of biology requires American leadership |url=https://rollcall.com/2024/11/13/age-of-biology-requires-american-leadership/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US}}
The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology was announced in March 2022 https://www.biotech.senate.gov/ and issued its report and recommendations to Congress in April 2025.{{Cite web |last=SCSP |date=2025-02-28 |title=What's Happening at SCSP? Can't Miss Announcements. |url=https://scsp222.substack.com/p/whats-happening-at-scsp-cant-miss-a9d?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Special Competitive Studies Project}}{{Cite web |last=Biotechnology |first=National Security Commission on Emerging |title=National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Urges Swift Action to Protect U.S. National Security |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-security-commission-on-emerging-biotechnology-urges-swift-action-to-protect-us-national-security-302422627.html |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}
Commissioners
The NSCEB is composed of appointed commissioners:
- Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Chair {{Cite web |title=Young Named to National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology {{!}} U.S. Senator Todd Young of Indiana |url=https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-named-to-national-security-commission-on-emerging-biotechnology |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=www.young.senate.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Bio News |date=2024-09-27 |title=Exclusive: Sen. Todd Young on biosecurity, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) |url=https://bio.news/biosecurity/exclusive-sen-todd-young-on-biosecurity-national-security-commission-on-emerging-biotechnology-nsceb/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Bio.News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Virtual Event {{!}} Biopower: Securing American Leadership in Biotechnology |url=https://www.cnas.org/events/virtual-event-biopower-securing-american-leadership-in-biotechnology |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=CNAS |language=en}}
- Dr. Michelle Rozo, Vice Chair{{Cite web |title=Bio-Strategies And Leadership Holds Inaugural Congressional Fellowship Program On Biotechnology Strategy |url=https://www.hoover.org/news/bio-strategies-and-leadership-holds-inaugural-congressional-fellowship-program-biotechnology |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Hoover Institution |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Tiron |first=Roxana |title=Biotech Panel Presses For $15 Billion to Blunt China's Advance |url=https://news.bgov.com/bloomberg-government-news/biotech-panel-presses-for-15-billion-to-blunt-chinas-advance}}
- Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA){{Cite web |title=Lawmakers name appointees to new emerging biotech panel {{!}} InsideDefense.com |url=https://insidedefense.com/insider/lawmakers-name-appointees-new-emerging-biotech-panel |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=insidedefense.com}}
- Representative Stephanie Bice (R-OK){{Cite web |date=2022-03-17 |title=Bice Selected for National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology |url=http://bice.house.gov/media/press-releases/bice-selected-national-security-commission-emerging-biotechnology |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=Representative Stephanie Bice |language=en}}
- Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA){{Cite web |date=2022-03-18 |title=Indian-American Ro Khanna named to emerging biotechnology body |url=https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2022/03/18/indian-american-ro-khanna-named-to-emerging-biotechnology-body-448979/ |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=The American Bazaar |language=en-US}}
- Dov S. Zakheim - former Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller){{Cite web |title=The Hon. Dov S. Zakheim - Foreign Policy Research Institute |url=https://www.fpri.org/contributor/dov-zakheim/ |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=www.fpri.org |language=en-US}}
- Paul Arcangeli{{Cite web |date=2024-12-02 |title=National Security Commission for Emerging Biotechnology Sounds the Alarm {{!}} AFCEA International |url=https://www.afcea.org/signal-media/technology/national-security-commission-emerging-biotechnology-sounds-alarm |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=www.afcea.org |language=en}}
- Dr. Alexander Titus - former [https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/1845752/dr-alexander-titus/ Assistant Director for Biotechnology] in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering{{Cite web |last=Cumbers |first=John |title="With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" — Meet Alexander Titus The Department Of Defense's Head Of Biotechnology |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johncumbers/2019/09/24/with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility--meet-alexander-titus-the-department-of-defenses-head-of-biotechnology/ |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
- Dr. Eric Schmidt - Billionaire philanthropist and former CEO of Google
- Dr. Angela Belcher{{cite web |date=30 December 2022 |title=Armed Services Committees Leadership Announces Chair and Vice Chair Selections for National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology | United States Senate Committee on Armed Services |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/press-releases/armed-services-committees-leadership-announces-chair-and-vice-chair-selections-for-national-security-commission-on-emerging-biotechnology}}
- Dawn Meyerriecks {{cite web | url=https://www.biotech.senate.gov/bio-dawn-meyerriecks/ | title=Bio Page - Dawn Meyerriecks }}
Reports and policy recommendations
The Commission submitted its first report to Congress in December 2023{{Cite web |title=December 2023 New Report |url=https://www.biotech.senate.gov/press-releases/interim-report/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Biotech |language=en-US}} which included recommendations related to agriculture policy for potential inclusion in the Farm Bill.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=New Biotech Commission Issues Interim Report |url=https://ww2.aip.org/fyi/new-biotech-commission-issues-interim-report |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=AIP |language=en}}
In December 2023, NSCEB published its interim report, which discusses the potential applications of biotechnology in fields such as human health, food security, energy production, and economic development. The report stresses the need for the U.S. to stay ahead in biotechnology as international competition increases.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-01 |title=NSCEB Interim Report |url=https://www.biotech.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/U.S.-National-Security-Commission-on-Emerging-Biotechnology-Interim-Report-December-20232.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology}}{{Cite web |last=Gillies |first=Andrew |date=2024-01-15 |title=Federal commission on biotechnology releases its initial report Friday |url=https://keyt.com/lifestyle/technology/2024/01/15/federal-commission-on-biotechnology-releases-its-initial-report-friday/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=News Channel 3-12 |language=en-US}}
In January 2024, the Commission published white papers on the integration of artificial intelligence and biotechnology ("AIxBio").{{Cite web |title=AIxBio White Paper 1: Introduction to AI and Biotech |url=https://www.biotech.senate.gov/press-releases/aixbio-white-paper-1-introduction-to-ai-and-biotech/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Biotech |language=en-US}} The Commission noted that AIxBio research would transform the speed and scope of emerging biotechnology innovation.{{Cite web |last=Dalton |first=Jack |date=2025-01-07 |title=Innovation for security: why Australia needs its own DARPA |url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/innovation-for-security-why-australia-needs-its-own-darpa/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Strategist |language=en-AU}}
In May 2024, members of Congress introduced several pieces of legislation recommended by the Commission focused on food security and agricultural security.{{Cite web |title=Padilla, Young Introduce Bills on Intersection of Biotech, Agriculture, and National Security |url=https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-young-introduce-bills-on-intersection-of-biotech-agriculture-and-national-security/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Senator Alex Padilla |language=en-US}}
In December 2024, several NSCEB policy ideas were passed into law as part of the FY25 NDAA.{{Cite web |title=National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology Announces FY25 NDAA Biotechnology Provisions |url=https://www.biotech.senate.gov/press-releases/national-security-commission-on-emerging-biotechnology-announces-fy25-ndaa-biotechnology-provisions/ |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Biotech |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=FY25 NDAA Includes Biotech Recommendations for DOD |url=https://natlawreview.com/article/fy-2025-ndaa-includes-biotechnology-provisions |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=natlawreview.com |language=en}}
In February 2025, the Special Competitive Studies Project announced a joint event to be held in April 2025 with the NSCEB to mark the publication of the Commission's final policy report.{{Cite web |last=SCSP |date=2025-02-28 |title=What's Happening at SCSP? Can't Miss Announcements. |url=https://scsp222.substack.com/p/whats-happening-at-scsp-cant-miss-a9d?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Special Competitive Studies Project}}
In April 2025, the Commission published its final report to Congress.{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.biotech.senate.gov/final-report/chapters/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Biotech |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=DeAngelis |first=Allison |date=2025-04-08 |title=Federal commission calls for $15 billion in new biotech funding to counter China's rise |url=https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/08/biotech-funding-china-national-security-commission-emerging-biotechnology/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=STAT |language=en-US}} The report called for a minimum of $15 billion in federal spending over five years to secure American leadership in biotechnology, spanning policy areas including defense spending, product regulation, and infrastructure.{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Sydney J. Freedberg |date=2025-04-08 |title=Congressional biotech commission calls for $15B over 5 years to catch up to China |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2025/04/congressional-biotech-commission-calls-for-15b-over-5-years-to-catch-up-to-china/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}} The report indicated that the United States needs to both innovate faster and slow down the People's Republic of China.{{Cite web |last=Goldman |first=Maya |date=2025-04-08 |title=China is beating U.S. in biotech advances, report warns |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/04/08/china-beating-us-biotech-advances-report |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Axios |language=en}}
On April 9, 2025, the NSCEB's Congressional Commissioners introduced the National Biotechnology Initiative Act, legislation based on report recommendations to create a National Biotechnology Coordination Office at the White House.{{Cite web |last=Hogan |first=Jeremy |date=2025-04-10 |title=Bloomington, IN |url=https://bloomingtonian.com/2025/04/10/press-release-young-padilla-introduce-bill-to-promote-u-s-biotechnology-innovation/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=ASM Applauds Introduced Biotechnology Legislation |url=https://asm.org/articles/policy/2025/april/asm-applauds-introduced-biotechnology-legislation |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=ASM.org |language=en}}
References
External links
- [https://www.biotech.senate.gov/ Official website]