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116th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 116-270
======================================================================
ENGINEERING BIOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2019
_______
November 5, 2019.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Ms. Johnson of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 4373]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 4373) to provide for a coordinated
Federal research initiative to ensure continued United States
leadership in engineering biology, having considered the same,
report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that
the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Amendment.......................................................2
II. Purpose of the Bill.............................................7
III. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................7
IV. Committee Hearings..............................................8
V. Committee Consideration and Votes...............................8
VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill.........................8
VII. Section-By-Section Analysis (By Title and Section)..............9
VIII. Committee Views................................................10
IX. Cost Estimate..................................................10
X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate......................11
XI. Compliance with Public Law 104-4 (Unfunded Mandates)...........12
XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations...............12
XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives..........12
XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement...........................12
XV. Duplication of Federal Programs................................12
XVI. Earmark Identification.........................................12
XVII. Applicability to the Legislative Branch........................12
XVIII.Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law.........12
XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, As Reported..........13
XX. Proceedings of Full Committee Markup...........................13
I. Amendment
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Engineering Biology Research and
Development Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Cellular and molecular processes may be used, mimicked,
or redesigned to develop new products, processes, and systems
that improve societal well-being, strengthen national security,
and contribute to the economy.
(2) Engineering biology relies on a workforce with a diverse
and unique set of skills combining the biological, physical,
chemical, and information sciences and engineering.
(3) Long-term research and development is necessary to create
breakthroughs in engineering biology. Such research and
development requires government investment as many of the
benefits are too distant or uncertain for industry to support
alone.
(4) Research is necessary to inform evidence-based governance
of engineering biology and to support the growth of the
engineering biology industry.
(5) The Federal Government can play an important role by
facilitating the development of tools and technologies to
further advance engineering biology, including user facilities,
by facilitating public-private partnerships, by supporting risk
research, and by facilitating the commercial application in the
United States of research funded by the Federal Government.
(5) The United States led the development of the science and
engineering techniques that created the field of engineering
biology, but due to increasing international competition, the
United States is at risk of losing its competitive advantage if
does not invest the necessary resources and have a national
strategy.
(6) A National Engineering Biology Initiative can serve to
establish new research directions and technology goals, improve
interagency coordination and planning processes, drive
technology transfer to the private sector, and help ensure
optimal returns on the Federal investment.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Biomanufacturing.--The term ``biomanufacturing'' means
the utilization of biological systems to develop new and
advance existing products, tools, and processes at commercial
scale.
(2) Engineering biology.--The term ``engineering biology''
means the application of engineering design principles and
practices to biological systems, including molecular and
cellular systems, to advance fundamental understanding of
complex natural systems and to enable novel or optimize
functions and capabilities.
(3) Initiative.--The term ``Initiative'' means the National
Engineering Biology Research and Development Initiative
established under section 4.
(4) Omics.--The term ``omics'' refers to the collective
technologies used to explore the roles, relationships, and
actions of the various types of molecules that make up the
cells of an organism.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL ENGINEERING BIOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE.
(a) In General.--The President, acting through the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, shall implement a National Engineering Biology
Research and Development Initiative to advance societal well-being,
national security, sustainability, and economic productivity and
competitiveness through--
(1) advancing areas of research at the intersection of the
biological, physical, chemical, and information sciences and
engineering to accelerate scientific understanding and
technological innovation in engineering biology;
(2) advancing areas of biomanufacturing research to optimize,
standardize, scale, and deliver new products and solutions;
(3) supporting social and behavioral sciences and economics
research that advances the field of engineering biology and
contributes to the development and public understanding of new
products, processes, and technologies;
(4) supporting risk research, including under subsection (d);
(5) supporting the development of novel tools and
technologies to accelerate scientific understanding and
technological innovation in engineering biology;
(6) expanding the number of researchers, educators, and
students with engineering biology training, including from
traditionally underserved populations;
(7) accelerating the translation and commercialization of
engineering biology research and development by the private
sector; and
(8) improving the interagency planning and coordination of
Federal Government activities related to engineering biology.
(b) Initiative Activities.--The activities of the Initiative shall
include--
(1) sustained support for engineering biology research and
development through--
(A) grants to individual investigators and teams of
investigators, including interdisciplinary teams;
(B) projects funded under joint solicitations by a
collaboration of no fewer than two agencies
participating in the Initiative; and
(C) interdisciplinary research centers that are
organized to investigate basic research questions,
carry out technology development and demonstration
activities, and increase understanding of how to scale
up engineering biology processes, including
biomanufacturing;
(2) sustained support for databases and related tools,
including--
(A) support for curated genomics, epigenomics, and
all other relevant omics databases, including plant and
microbial databases, that are available to researchers
to carry out engineering biology research;
(B) development of standards for such databases,
including for curation, interoperability, and
protection of privacy and security; and
(C) support for the development of computational
tools, including artificial intelligence tools, that
can accelerate research and innovation using such
databases; and
(D) an inventory and assessment of all Federal
government omics databases to identify opportunities
for consolidation and inform investment in such
databases as critical infrastructure for the
engineering biology research enterprise;
(3) sustained support for the development, optimization, and
validation of novel tools and technologies to enable the
dynamic study of molecular processes in situ, including through
grants to investigators at institutions of higher education and
other nonprofit research institutions, and through the Small
Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business
Technology Transfer Program, as described in section 9 of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638);
(4) education and training of undergraduate and graduate
students in engineering biology, in biomanufacturing, in
bioprocess engineering, and in areas of computational science
applied to engineering biology;
(5) activities to develop robust mechanisms for tracking and
quantifying the outputs and economic benefits of engineering
biology; and
(6) activities to accelerate the translation and
commercialization of new products, processes, and technologies
by--
(A) identifying precompetitive research
opportunities;
(B) facilitating public-private partnerships in
engineering biology research and development;
(C) connecting researchers, graduate students, and
postdoctoral fellows with entrepreneurship education
and training opportunities; and
(D) supporting proof of concept activities and the
formation of startup companies including through
programs such as the Small Business Innovation Research
Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer
Program.
(c) Expanding Participation.--The Initiative shall include, to the
maximum extent practicable, outreach to primarily undergraduate and
minority-serving institutions about Initiative opportunities, and shall
encourage the development of research collaborations between research-
intensive universities and primarily undergraduate and minority-serving
institutions.
(d) Ethical, Legal, Environmental, Safety, Security, and Societal
Issues.--Initiative activities shall take into account ethical, legal,
environmental, safety, security, and other appropriate societal issues
by--
(1) supporting research, including in the social sciences,
and other activities addressing ethical, legal, environmental,
and other appropriate societal issues related to engineering
biology, including integrating research on such topics with the
research and development in engineering biology, and ensuring
that the results of such research are widely disseminated,
including through interdisciplinary engineering biology
research centers described in subsection (b)(1);
(2) supporting research and other activities related to the
safety and security implications of engineering biology,
including outreach to increase awareness among federally-funded
researchers at institutions of higher education about potential
safety and security implications of engineering biology
research, as appropriate;
(3) ensuring that input from Federal and non-Federal experts
on the ethical, legal, environmental, security, and other
appropriate societal issues related to engineering biology is
integrated into the Initiative; and
(4) ensuring, through the agencies and departments that
participate in the Initiative, that public input and outreach
are integrated into the Initiative by the convening of regular
and ongoing public discussions through mechanisms such as
workshops, consensus conferences, and educational events, as
appropriate.
SEC. 5. INITIATIVE COORDINATION.
(a) Interagency Committee.--The President, acting through the Office
of Science and Technology Policy, shall designate an interagency
committee to coordinate engineering biology, which shall be co-chaired
by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and include
representatives from the National Science Foundation, the Department of
Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, the Environmental Protection
Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the National Institutes of
Health, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and any other agency that the
President considers appropriate (in this section referred to as the
``interagency committee''). The Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall select an additional co-chairperson from among
the members of the Interagency Committee. The Interagency Committee
shall oversee the planning, management, and coordination of the
Initiative. The Interagency Committee shall--
(1) provide for interagency coordination of Federal
engineering biology research, development, and other activities
undertaken pursuant to the Initiative;
(2) establish and periodically update goals and priorities
for the Initiative;
(3) develop, not later than 12 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, and update every 3 years, a strategic
plan that--
(A) guides the activities of the Initiative for
purposes of meeting the goals and priorities
established under (and updated pursuant to) paragraph
(2); and
(B) describes--
(i) the Initiative's support for long-term
funding for interdisciplinary engineering
biology research and development;
(ii) the Initiative's support for education
and public outreach activities;
(iii) the Initiative's support for research
and other activities on ethical, legal,
environmental, safety, security, and other
appropriate societal issues related to
engineering biology;
(iv) how the Initiative will move results out
of the laboratory and into application for the
benefit of society and United States
competitiveness; and
(v) how the Initiative will measure and track
the contributions of engineering biology to
United States economic growth and other
societal indicators;
(4) develop a national genomic sequencing strategy to ensure
engineering biology research fully leverages plant, animal, and
microbe biodiversity to enhance long-term innovation and
competitiveness in engineering biology in the United States;
(5) propose an annually coordinated interagency budget for
the Initiative that is intended to ensure--
(A) the maintenance of a robust engineering biology
research and development portfolio; and
(B) that the balance of funding across the Initiative
is sufficient to meet the goals and priorities
established for the Program;
(6) develop a plan to utilize Federal programs, such as the
Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small
Business Technology Transfer Program as described in section 9
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638), in support of the
activities described in section 4(b)(3); and
(7) in carrying out this section, take into consideration the
recommendations of the advisory committee established under
section 6, the results of the workshop convened under section
7, existing reports on related topics, and the views of
academic, State, industry, and other appropriate groups.
(b) Annual Report.--Beginning with fiscal year 2020, not later than
90 days after submission of the President's annual budget request and
each fiscal year thereafter, the interagency committee shall prepare
and submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report that includes--
(1) a summarized agency budget in support of the Initiative
for the fiscal year to which such budget request applies, and
for the then current fiscal year, including a breakout of
spending for each agency participating in the Program and for
the development and acquisition of any research facilities and
instrumentation; and
(2) an assessment of how Federal agencies are implementing
the plan described in subsection (a)(3), and a description of
the amount and number of awards made under the Small Business
Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology
Transfer Program (as described in section 9 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638)) in support of the Initiative.
(c) Initiative Staffing.--The President shall ensure adequate
staffing for the Initiative, including full-time staff within the
Office of Science and Technology Policy, who shall--
(1) provide technical and administrative support to the
interagency committee and the advisory committee established
under section 6;
(2) serve as the point of contact on Federal engineering
biology activities for government organizations, academia,
industry, professional societies, State governments, interested
citizen groups, and others to exchange technical and
programmatic information;
(3) oversee interagency coordination of the Initiative,
including by encouraging and supporting joint agency
solicitation and selection of applications for funding of
activities under the Initiative;
(4) conduct public outreach, including dissemination of
findings and recommendations of the advisory committee
established under section 6, as appropriate; and
(5) promote access to, and early application of, the
technologies, innovations, and expertise derived from
Initiative activities to agency missions and systems across the
Federal Government, and to United States industry, including
startup companies.
SEC. 6. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) In General.--The President, acting through the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, shall designate or establish an advisory
committee on engineering biology research and development (in this
section referred to as the ``advisory committee'') to be composed of
not fewer than 12 members, including representatives of research and
academic institutions, industry, and nongovernmental entities, who are
qualified to provide advice on the Initiative.
(b) Assessment.--The advisory committee shall assess--
(1) the current state of United States competitiveness in
engineering biology, including the scope and scale of United
States investments in engineering biology research and
development in the international context;
(2) current market barriers to commercialization of
engineering biology products, processes, and tools in the
United States;
(3) progress made in implementing the Initiative;
(4) the need to revise the Initiative;
(5) the balance of activities and funding across the
Initiative;
(6) whether the strategic plan developed or updated by the
interagency committee established under section 5 is helping to
maintain United States leadership in engineering biology;
(7) the management, coordination, implementation, and
activities of the Initiative; and
(8) whether ethical, legal, environmental, safety, security,
and other appropriate societal issues are adequately addressed
by the Initiative.
(c) Reports.--Beginning not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 3 years
thereafter, the advisory committee shall submit to the President, the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, a report on--
(1) the findings of the advisory committee's assessment under
subsection (b); and
(2) the advisory committee's recommendations for ways to
improve the Initiative.
(d) Application of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Section 14 of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the
Advisory Committee.
SEC. 7. EXTERNAL REVIEW OF ETHICAL, LEGAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND SOCIETAL
ISSUES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall
enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a review, and make recommendations
with respect to, the ethical, legal, environmental, and other
appropriate societal issues related to engineering biology research and
development. The review shall include--
(1) an assessment of the current research on such issues;
(2) a description of the research gaps relating to such
issues;
(3) recommendations on how the Initiative can address the
research needs identified pursuant to paragraph (2); and
(4) recommendations on how engineering biology researchers
can best incorporate considerations of ethical, legal,
environmental, and other societal issues into the development
of research proposals and the conduct of research.
(b) Report to Congress.--The agreement entered into under subsection
(a) shall require the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine to, not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of
this Act--
(1) submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing
the findings and recommendations of the review conducted under
subsection (a); and
(2) make a copy of such report available on a publicly
accessible website.
SEC. 8. AGENCY ACTIVITIES.
(a) National Science Foundation.--As part of the Initiative, the
National Science Foundation shall--
(1) support basic research in engineering biology through
individual grants and through interdisciplinary research
centers;
(2) support research on the environmental, legal, and social
implications of engineering biology;
(3) provide support for research instrumentation for
engineering biology disciplines, including support for
research, development, optimization and validation of novel
technologies to enable the dynamic study of molecular processes
in situ;
(4) support curriculum development and research experiences
for secondary, undergraduate, and graduate students in
engineering biology and biomanufacturing; and
(5) award grants, on a competitive basis, to enable
institutions to support graduate students and postdoctoral
fellows who perform some of their engineering biology research
in an industry setting.
(b) Department of Commerce.--As part of the Initiative, the Director
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall--
(1) establish a bioscience research program to advance the
development of standard reference materials and measurements
and to create new data tools, techniques, and processes
necessary to advance engineering biology and biomanufacturing;
(2) provide access to user facilities with advanced or unique
equipment, services, materials, and other resources to
industry, institutions of higher education, nonprofit
organizations, and government agencies to perform research and
testing; and
(3) provide technical expertise to inform the potential
development of guidelines or safeguards for new products,
processes, and systems of engineering biology.
(c) Department of Energy.--As part of the Initiative, the Secretary
of Energy shall--
(1) conduct and support research, development, demonstration,
and commercial application activities in engineering biology,
including in the areas of synthetic biology, advanced biofuel
development, biobased materials, and environmental remediation;
(2) support the development, optimization and validation of
novel, scalable tools and technologies to enable the dynamic
study of molecular processes in situ; and
(3) provide access to user facilities with advanced or unique
equipment, services, materials, and other resources, as
appropriate, to industry, institutions of higher education,
nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to perform
research and testing.
(d) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.--As part of the
Initiative, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall--
(1) conduct and support basic and applied research in
engineering biology, including in synthetic biology, and
related to Earth and space sciences, aeronautics, space
technology, and space exploration and experimentation,
consistent with the priorities established in the National
Academies' decadal surveys; and
(2) award grants, on a competitive basis, that enable
institutions to support graduate students and postdoctoral
fellows who perform some of their engineering biology research
in an industry setting.
(e) Environmental Protection Agency.--As part of the Initiative, the
Environmental Protection Agency shall support research on how products,
processes, and systems of engineering biology will affect or can
protect the environment.
II. Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of the bill is to provide for a coordinated
Federal research initiative to ensure continued United States
leadership in engineering biology.
III. Background and Need for the Legislation
Engineering biology research applies engineering design
principles and practices to biological systems such as
molecular, cellular, and microbial systems, to advance
fundamental understanding of complex natural systems and enable
novel functions and capabilities. Engineering biology has the
potential to address some of the most serious societal
challenges, including providing food for a growing population,
reducing our dependency on fossil fuels, protecting our
environment, and improving human health. It will also drive our
economy in the 21st century. U.S. revenues from engineered
biological systems reached at least $388 billion in 2017, or 2
percent of GDP.
Other countries are making significant progress in
engineering biology. China, in particular, has made it a
priority to be the global leader in engineering biology and is
investing accordingly. In 2018, a Chinese official publicly
reported that the bioeconomy in China is growing at 15 percent
annually and in 2015 generated $700 billion, or approximately 4
percent of GDP, with a government target to more than double
this to $1.6 trillion by 2020. The European Union has also
prioritized engineering biology research.
While the Administration, at the time of the filing of this
legislative report, is taking steps toward the creation of a
national bioeconomy initiative with a focus on Federal
investments in engineering biology R&D;, there is currently no
formal mechanism for a coordinated federal government approach
to investments in this field or to partnership with the private
sector. Furthermore, the legislation ensures full transparency
to the Congress and the public in the development of a federal
research agenda and the process by which the agencies seek
expert input from outside stakeholders. Finally, through its
emphasis on societal implications, including ethics, safety,
and security, this legislation ensures that the goal of U.S.
economic leadership in the bioeconomy does not overtake the
goal of ensuring responsible leadership that protects the
public, including our most vulnerable populations, the
environment, and our national security, and takes into account
societal values.
H.R. 4373 creates the foundation for U.S. leadership in the
bioeconomy while also ensuring that the U.S. is positioned to
lead global discussions about safety, security, ethics, and
other governance issues related to engineering biology.
IV. Committee Hearings
On March 12, 2019, the Subcommittee on Research and
Technology of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
held a hearing to review the opportunities and challenges with
new and emerging bioscience and biotechnologies with
application in agriculture, energy, and manufacturing; to
examine the role of the federal government in research and
development (R&D;) and oversight of such science and
technologies; and to examine the status of U.S. leadership in
engineering biology. An additional purpose of this hearing was
to receive testimony on the Engineering Biology Research and
Development Act.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from five witnesses: Dr.
Rob Carlson, Managing Director of Bioeconomy Capital; Dr. Kevin
Solomon, Assistant Professor of Agricultural & Biological
Engineering at Purdue University; Dr. Eric Hegg, Professor of
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University
and Michigan State University Subcontract Lead, Great Lakes
Bioenergy Research Center; Dr. Sean Simpson, Chief Scientific
Officer and Co-Founder of LanzaTech; and Dr. Laurie Zoloth,
Margaret E. Burton Professor of Religion and Ethics, and Senior
Advisor to the Provost for Programs in Social Ethics at the
University of Chicago.
V. Committee Consideration and Votes
On September 18, 2019, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson,
joined by Ranking Member Frank Lucas, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
and Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced H.R. 4373, the
Engineering Biology Research and Development Act of 2019. The
bill was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology.
On September 25, 2019, the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology met to consider H.R. 4373. Ms. Johnson offered an
amendment to make technical corrections; to add curriculum
development for secondary education in engineering biology to
the list of activities to be supported by the National Science
Foundation; and to updated the required study by the National
Academies to include recommendations for researchers on how
best to incorporate consideration of ethical and other societal
issues into the design and conduct of their research. The
amendment was agreed to on a voice vote. Ms. Johnson moved that
the Committee favorably report the bill, H.R. 4373, to the
House with the recommendation that the bill be approved. The
motion was agreed to by a voice vote.
VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill
H.R. 4374 would establish a federal engineering biology
research initiative and require a national strategy for federal
agency investments and a framework for interagency
coordination. The legislation would also expand public-private
partnerships and expand education and training for the next
generation of engineering biology researchers. Further, it
provides direction for mission-relevant activities in
engineering biology for several agencies, including the
National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the
Environmental Protection Agency and the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration. Finally, the legislation ensures that
the authorized Initiative would address potential ethical,
legal, environmental, safety and security issues associated
with engineering biology research.
VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (By Title and Section)
Section 1. Short title
Engineering Biology Research and Development Act of 2019.
Section 2. Findings
Highlights the importance of engineering biology to
societal well-being, national security, and the economy, and
how the federal government can play an important role in
maintaining U.S. leadership in engineering biology research and
development.
Section 3. Definitions
Defines terms used in the bill.
Section 4. National Engineering Biology Research and Development
Initiative
Subsection (a) establishes a National Engineering Biology
Research and Development Initiative to advance engineering
biology research; support risk research to address ethical,
safety, security and other societal implications of engineering
biology; support the development of tools to accelerate
engineering biology research; expand the number of engineering
biology researchers; accelerate the translation and
commercialization of engineering biology research; and improve
interagency planning and coordination of federal engineering
biology research initiatives.
Subsection (b) describes the specific activities of the
Initiative, including support for research grants, research
centers, ``omics'' databases, novels tools and technologies to
accelerate research, education and training of students,
metrics to understand and assess the bioeconomy, and technology
transfer activities.
Subsection (c) requires outreach to minority-serving
institutions and predominantly undergraduate institutions and
encourages research collaborations among different types of
institutions.
Subsection (d) describes how the Initiative should take
into account the ethical, legal, environmental, safety,
security, and other appropriate societal concerns.
Sec. 5. Initiative coordination
Requires OSTP to designate an Interagency Committee that
would oversee the planning, management, and coordination of the
Initiative, in addition to developing and regularly updating a
strategic plan for the Initiative, developing a national
genomic sequencing strategy; and submitting to Congress an
annual coordinated interagency budget proposal for the
Initiative.
Section 6. Advisory Committee
Designates an Advisory Committee of non-Federal members to
provide advice on the Initiative (in practice the intent would
be for PCAST to fill this role); charges the Committee with
specific duties; and requires the Committee to report on their
findings and recommendations at least every 3 years.
Section 7. External review of ethical, environmental, and societal
concerns
Requires a National Academy of Sciences workshop to review
the ethical, environmental, societal, and health concerns
related to engineering biology research and development.
Section 8. Agency functions
Describes specific Initiative activities and
responsibilities for the National Science Foundation, the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department
of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
and the Environmental Protection Agency.
VIII. Committee Views
It is the intent of the Committee that the Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy collaborate and
coordinate with security and intelligence agencies as needed to
address any emerging security concerns with respect to
engineering biology. This may include appointing
representatives of such agencies to the interagency committee
required under Section 5. Similarly, the Committee believes
that more data and analyses of the bioeconomy will be an
important tool in informing both the Federal research agenda
and private sector investments. As such, we encourage the
Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis to
participate in the Initiative IWG and to develop and publish
new metrics for the bioeconomy.
Further, while the Committee accepted OSTP's request not to
establish a formal coordination office in the Act, it is the
intent of the Committee that the OSTP Director appoint such
staff as are necessary to carry out all of the responsibilities
described in Section 5(c), including through the recruitment of
additional agency detailees with relevant expertise.
Section 7 requires a National Academies review of ethical,
legal, environmental and other societal implications of
engineering biology research and development. While the
Committee has great respect for the Academies and its
established process for appointing study committees, we
encourage the Academies staff to cast a sufficiently broad net
in seeking experts from both academia and the private-sector to
reflect the diversity that exists within engineering biology,
including the diversity in potential products, economic
sectors, technology areas, and research directions.
IX. Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the
estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax
expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974.
X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, November 1, 2019.
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chairwoman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4373, the
Engineering Biology Research and Development Act of 2019.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani
Shankaran.
Sincerely,
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director.
Enclosure.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
H.R. 4373 would direct the Office of Science and Technology
Policy (OSTP) to establish a national engineering biology
research and development initiative. Under that initiative,
federal agencies would provide research grants in engineering
biology, develop and validate tools and technologies, support
the commercialization of engineering biology products, and
conduct related public outreach. The bill would require OSTP to
establish an interagency committee--with representation from at
least eight federal agencies--to coordinate those activities.
H.R. 4373 also would direct the National Science Foundation
(NSF) to enter into an agreement with the National Academies to
review ethical, legal, environmental, and societal issues
related to engineering biology.
Using information from the affected agencies, CBO expects
that many agencies are already conducting activities required
under the bill. On that basis, and considering the costs of
similar tasks, CBO estimates that each of the eight agencies
and OSTP would require one additional employee at an average
annual cost of $150,000 each to participate in the initiative
and interagency committee. In addition, using information from
the NSF, CBO estimates that conducting the required review
would cost less than $1 million. In total, CBO estimates that
implementing H.R. 4373 would cost $7 million over the 2020-2024
period; such spending would be subject to the availability of
appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani
Shankaran. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss,
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
XI. Federal Mandates Statement
H.R. 4373 contains no unfunded mandates.
XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
The Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in the body of this report.
XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals
and Objectives
H.R. 4373 should result in a more focused and coordinated
Federal effort in the conduct of engineering biology research
and development with the goal of maintaining U.S. leadership in
this field.
XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement
The functions of the advisory committee authorized in H.R.
4373 are not currently being performed by one or more agencies.
H.R. 4373 permits the President to carry out this requirement
by enlarging the mandate of an existing advisory committee.
XV. Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision
of H.R. 4373 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the
federal government known to be duplicative of another federal
program, including any program that was included in a report to
Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the
most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
XVI. Earmark Identification
Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the
Committee finds that H.R. 4373 contains no earmarks, limited
tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.
XVII. Applicability to the Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that H.R. 4373 does not relate to the
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of
the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).
XVIII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local,
or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any state, local, or
tribal law.
XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
This legislation does not amend any existing Federal
statute.
XX. Proceedings of the Full Committee Markup
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