117 S3012 IS: Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act U.S. Senate 2021-10-19 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 3012IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESOctober 19, 2021Mr. Marshall (for himself, Mr. Paul, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Tuberville, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Braun, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo provide a moratorium on all Federal research grants provided to any institution of higher education or other research institute that is conducting gain-of-function research.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act.

2.

Prohibition on Federal research grants for institutions and research institutes conducting gain-of-function research

(a)

Definition of gain-of-Function research

In this section, the term gain-of-function research means any research that—(1) may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in any organism; or(2) involves the enhancement of potential pandemic pathogens or related risky research with potentially dangerous pathogens. (b)

Prohibition

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no research grants supported by Federal funds may be awarded to institutions of higher education, or other research institutes, that are conducting gain-of-function research.