[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4900-S4901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2556. Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Young) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle H of title X, insert the following:

     SEC. 1095. BIOTECHNOLOGY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

       (a) Prioritization.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     prioritize biotechnology at the Department of Agriculture by 
     providing for the effective coordination of policies and 
     activities with respect to biotechnology, biomanufacturing, 
     synthetic biology, and related emerging technologies.
       (b) Office of Biotechnology Policy.--Subtitle A of the 
     Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 
     U.S.C. 6912 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 224B. OFFICE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY POLICY.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish within 
     the Department the Office of Biotechnology Policy (referred 
     to in this section as the `Office').
       ``(b) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a Director 
     (referred to in this section as the `Director'), who shall 
     report directly to the Secretary or a designee of the 
     Secretary.
       ``(c) Duties of the Office.--The Office shall be 
     responsible for--
       ``(1) the development and coordination of policies, 
     activities, and services of the Department with respect to 
     biotechnology and related topics, including--
       ``(A) research and development;
       ``(B) communication, extension, and education;

[[Page S4901]]

       ``(C) regulation and labeling; and
       ``(D) commercialization, use, and trade;
       ``(2) assisting other offices and agencies of the 
     Department in fulfilling their responsibilities relating to 
     biotechnology under applicable laws; and
       ``(3) carrying out such other duties as are required by law 
     or determined by the Secretary.
       ``(d) Interagency Coordination.--In support of the duties 
     required under subsection (c), the Director shall provide 
     leadership to ensure coordination of interagency activities 
     with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug 
     Administration, and other Federal and State agencies.
       ``(e) Outreach.--In carrying out the duties of the Office 
     under this section, the Director shall consult as necessary 
     with biotechnology developers, academics, agricultural 
     producers, and other entities that may be affected by 
     biotechnology-related activities or actions of the Department 
     or other Federal or State agencies.''.
       (c) Conforming Amendment.--Subtitle A of the Department of 
     Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by 
     redesignating section 225 (7 U.S.C. 6925) (relating to the 
     Food Access Liaison) as section 224A.
                                 ______