Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senators Todd Young and Alex Padilla have introduced a legislative proposal aimed at bolstering biotechnology in the United States. The bill, known as the National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025, seeks to harness governmental collaboration to enhance national security, economic productivity, and global competitiveness in biotechnology.

Senator Young, a Republican from Indiana and chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), cited the necessity of maintaining U.S. leadership in biotechnology against rising competition, particularly from China. "The United States has long been a leader in biotechnology, but we now risk losing our edge to China," Young stated. He emphasized the goal of the legislation, which is to facilitate a coordinated federal effort to promote biotechnology innovation.

Senator Padilla, a Democrat from California and an NSCEB commissioner, highlighted the potential opportunities in biotechnology across various sectors, including defense, industry, healthcare, and agriculture. He noted the current fragmentation in communication between federal agencies and asserted, "By creating the National Biotechnology Coordination Office, our bipartisan legislation would ensure lasting, organized collaboration between federal agencies."

The proposed legislation would establish a National Biotechnology Coordination Office under the Executive Office of the President to oversee and streamline federal biotechnology initiatives. This development is a significant recommendation from the NSCEB's report, released earlier this week.

In the House, the bill was introduced by Representatives Stephanie Bice and Ro Khanna, both commissioners of the NSCEB.