Indy Standard

U.S. Senators Todd Young and Alex Padilla have introduced the National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025 aimed at promoting United States' biotechnology innovation. The bill proposes a coordinated government effort to enhance biotechnology for national security, economic productivity, and competitiveness. It includes establishing a National Biotechnology Coordination Office within the Executive Office of the President to oversee federal biotechnology activities.

Senator Young, the chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), emphasized the importance of the legislation, saying, "The United States has long been a leader in biotechnology, but we now risk losing our edge to China. In this era of global competition, we need to promote American biotech innovation and manufacturing. Our legislation will provide a long-term strategy to make federal agencies work together — with greater efficiency — to support American biotechnology."

Senator Padilla, a commissioner on the NSCEB, highlighted the bill's potential impact on various sectors, noting, "American innovation in biotechnology will unlock new economic and national security possibilities across a wide array of key sectors, from battlefield innovation and industrial manufacturing to health care and agriculture. Keeping all federal agencies aligned and working on domestic biotech priorities is critical, but our Commission has found that communication is still fragmented. By creating the National Biotechnology Coordination Office, our bipartisan legislation would ensure lasting, organized collaboration between federal agencies to build a long-term biotech strategy and secure American leadership in its development."

In addition to its Senate sponsors, the bill was introduced in the House by Representatives Stephanie Bice and Ro Khanna, both NSCEB commissioners.