[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4929-S4930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2590. Mr. YOUNG (for himself and Mr. Padilla) 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 appropriate place in subtitle H of title X, insert
the following:
SEC. 10__. NATIONAL SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY CENTER.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the application of synthetic biology to accelerate
innovation in food and agriculture is critical to--
(A) the national security and economic future of the United
States; and
(B) the ability of the United States to feed and fuel the
global economy;
(2) while agriculture has experienced significant
advancements in productivity and sustainability, the future
of the food system relies on disruptive technologies
catalyzed by synthetic biology at the intersections of soil
health, plant science, animal health, and, ultimately, human
health;
(3) synthetic biology is a key tool to defend against
terrorism and high-consequence events;
(4) investments into synthetic biology will catalyze the
strengths of engineering, agriculture, and manufacturing to
develop a resilient food and agriculture system;
(5) resiliency is accomplished through advanced
biotechnology and digital solutions to keep the United States
at the forefront of feeding the United States and the world;
(6) Congress has historically prioritized a safe and secure
food supply in the United States, as evidenced by the
enactment of the Securing Our Agriculture and Food Act
(Public Law 115-43; 131 Stat. 884); and
(7) innovation and research are necessary to push the
boundaries of science to develop
[[Page S4930]]
disruptive technologies that advance national security
through food security.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) 1862 institution; 1890 institution.--The terms ``1862
Institution'' and ``1890 Institution'' have the meanings
given those terms in section 2 of the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601).
(2) 1994 institution.--The term ``1994 Institution'' has
the meaning given the term in section 532 of the Equity in
Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note;
Public Law 103-382).
(3) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the National
Synthetic Biology Center established under subsection (c)(1).
(4) Eligible institution.--The term ``eligible
institution'' means--
(A) an 1862 Institution;
(B) an 1890 Institution; and
(C) a 1994 Institution.
(5) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory''
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(c) Establishment of National Synthetic Biology Center.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
head of any other relevant Federal agency, shall establish a
center, to be known as the ``National Synthetic Biology
Center'', to award grants, on a competitive basis, to
eligible institutions.
(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Center is to provide a hub
for researchers and industry partners in the United States to
discover and develop science-based solutions based on
synthetic biology to improve agricultural performance while
minimizing environmental impact and improving overall food
system resiliency.
(d) Partnerships.--The Center shall provide grants to
eligible institutions to carry out projects in partnership
with not fewer than 1 other entity, which may include--
(1) a nonprofit organization;
(2) a State entity;
(3) a National Laboratory;
(4) an 1862 Institution;
(5) an 1890 Institution;
(6) a 1994 Institution; or
(7) any combination of entities described in paragraphs (1)
through (6).
(e) Application.--
(1) In general.--An eligible institution seeking a grant
under this section shall submit an application to the Center
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Center may require.
(2) Requirements.--An application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall include, at a minimum, a description of how the
proposed project will--
(A) promote innovative synthetic biology technologies and
practices that address current and emerging challenges in the
food and agriculture sector;
(B) foster the development and dissemination of science-
based educational resources and training programs on
synthetic biology for stakeholders in the agricultural
community;
(C) enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and resiliency
of food production systems through synthetic biology
interventions; and
(D) monitor and evaluate the impacts, benefits, and
challenges of implementing synthetic biology solutions in
real-world agricultural settings.
(f) Use of Funds.--
(1) Research priorities.--In awarding grants to eligible
institutions, the Center shall prioritize the following areas
of research:
(A) Cellular biology.
(B) Genomes to phenomes.
(C) Microbiomes or microbes.
(D) Gene editing.
(E) Digital agriculture.
(F) Fermentation.
(G) Controlled environment agriculture.
(2) Purposes.--An eligible institution receiving a grant
from the Center may use the grant for the following purposes:
(A) To explore and advance biotechnology applied to food
science in the creation of new protein sources for human and
animal consumption.
(B) To build on the Agricultural Genome to Phenome
Initiative (also known as the ``AG2PI'') of the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture to inform approaches to
understanding how variable weather, environments, and
production systems interact with genetic diversity in crops
and animals to impact growth and productivity.
(C) To advance the development and commercialization of
nutritional and therapeutic innovations to improve the health
of livestock and companion animals.
(D) To create new crops that have functional mutations that
improve performance and increase climate resiliency through
increased efficiency in the use of inputs and increased
disease and pest resistance.
(E) To apply artificial intelligence, machine learning,
data science, and advanced computational processes to
accelerate modeling and measurement for new synthetic
biological solutions.
(F) To strengthen advanced manufacturing sciences and
infrastructure to use microorganisms to produce food and
agricultural products, including vaccines, crop protection
products, and food products for human and animal nutrition,
by capitalizing on the strength of food science, engineering,
and pharmacy.
(G) To advance diversity of crops to increase the food
supply and explore pharmaceutical plant-based derivatives
within a controlled environment.
(g) Timing of Awards.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Center shall begin awarding
grants under this section.
(h) Coordination.--
(1) Grant recipients.--An eligible institution receiving a
grant from the Center under this section shall endeavor to
coordinate with a wide range of experts and researchers to
create efficiency in the innovation development pipeline.
(2) Center.--The Center shall coordinate with technology
transfer offices or technology licensing offices in order to
disseminate innovations and reach commercialization.
(i) Website.--The Center shall establish and maintain a
website with a user friendly portal in order to disseminate
synthetic biology findings and connect researchers and
innovators to collaborative opportunities.
(j) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the
Center shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a
report detailing--
(1) any findings from the research funded by the Center;
(2) the progress of any innovation funded by the Center;
(3) a description of the focus and proposed goals of each
grant recipient;
(4) an assessment, based on a common set of metrics across
all grant recipients, of the success of each grant recipient
in improving efficiency in the innovation development
pipeline; and
(5) any recommendations for administrative or legislative
action that may optimize the effectiveness of the research
activities carried out by grant recipients under this
section.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary--
(1) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029,
to remain available until expended, for the awarding of
grants by the Center; and
(2) $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029,
to remain available until expended, for the establishment of
the Center and for other activities of the Center.
______