[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 90 (Thursday, May 23, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3886-S3887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Young):
  S. 4421. A bill to establish the Office of Biotechnology Policy in 
the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Agriculture and 
National Security Act and the Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination 
Act. These bills aim to bolster the global competitiveness of the 
United States agricultural sector in emerging biotechnology and to 
address security vulnerabilities across the food and agriculture 
sector.
  Through the work of the National Security Commission on Emerging 
Biotechnology, we have developed these proposals aimed at improving 
coordination between Agencies to accelerate agricultural biotechnology 
products and to include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, in 
important national security discussions to enhance our capabilities on 
disease surveillance, food security, agriculture data

[[Page S3887]]

security, and many other critical issues.
  Agricultural biotechnology is a rapidly evolving field consisting of 
traditional breeding techniques and genetic engineering, among other 
methods, to alter living organisms into new or modified agricultural 
products for a variety of uses. Advances in agricultural biotechnology 
provide farmers with tools that can make production more efficient and 
manageable, which is critical for keeping pace with demands for food 
and our national security.
  In 1986, the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of 
Biotechnology was established to provide for the regulatory oversight 
of organisms derived through genetic engineering. The approach taken in 
the Coordinated Framework is grounded in the judgment of the National 
Academy of Sciences that the potential risks associated with these 
organisms fall into the same general categories as those created by 
traditionally bred organisms.
  The Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act would establish an 
Office of Biotechnology Policy at the USDA to support internal and 
interagency coordination, development of biotechnology policies, 
activities, and regulations, and to consult with biotechnology 
stakeholders and leaders.
  The Agriculture and National Security Act would create the position 
of Senior Advisor for National Security within the USDA Office of the 
Secretary, appoint a detailee at USDA to liaison with national security 
Agencies, and direct the USDA to publish a report on national security 
food chain vulnerabilities.
  Importantly, this legislation is supported by the National Security 
Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, which was chartered by Congress 
to conduct a review of how advancement in emerging biotechnology will 
shape current and future activities of the Department of Defense.
  Strengthening America's longstanding leadership in biotechnology 
through promoting interagency coordination and appointing high-level 
officials to promote emerging biotechnology issues in agriculture is 
critical for maintaining national security, trade security, food 
security, and assessing any vulnerabilities throughout the food and 
agriculture sector.
  Moreover, developments in agricultural biotechnology hold immense 
potential to revolutionize the agricultural sector and enhance food, 
trade, and economic security, particularly in the face of historic heat 
waves and rising temperatures caused by the climate crisis.
  Agricultural biotechnology has allowed scientists to, for example, 
identify climate-resilient plant genes and species able to withstand 
weather extremes. Drought, flooding, and wildfires not only pose 
significant threat to farmers' livelihoods but also reliability in our 
food systems and consumers. In addition, genetically engineered plants 
have been bred to tolerate specific herbicides, protect against pests 
and diseases, and enhance nutritional capacity.
  I would like to thank Senator Todd Young for introducing these bills 
with me, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the 
Agricultural Biotechnology Coordination Act and the Agriculture and 
National Security Act as quickly as possible.

                          ____________________