Defense officials would plan for biotechnology threats from foreign adversaries

The defense secretary would prepare a strategy and send it to Congress. The strategy would cover foreign adversaries, especially China, and integrate their biotechnology threats into national defense strategy and military planning guidance. The secretary would consult other agencies, industry and research partners, and U.S. allies. The report would be unclassified but could include a classified attachment.

The group would assess security risks and coordinate federal foreign-investment reviews. Its work would cover foreign investments, partnerships, and joint ventures in U.S. biotechnology, focusing on China. It would maintain a database of foreign entities and send Congress annual reports with recommendations. Congressional briefings would begin within 180 days after the group’s establishment and repeat every 90 days.

The national intelligence director would submit an assessment to Congress. The assessment would cover China’s military biotechnology research, biological weapons risks, and entities developing technology with both civilian and military uses. The director would consult the CIA director and the commerce and defense secretaries. The report would be unclassified but could include a classified attachment. The assessment would be due within 180 days after the bill becomes law.