“To authorize the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to support the defense biotechnology supply chain, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with military department secretaries and relevant Defense Agency heads, to establish a biotechnology supply chain resiliency program to develop, scale, and transition biotechnology research—including bioindustrials, biomanufacturing, biologically derived materials, chemicals, fuels, and products—from military service laboratories to enhance defense supply chain resilience, sustainability, and responsiveness. Under the program, the Secretary may (1) assess supply chain vulnerabilities; (2) direct military laboratories to conduct applied research, prototyping, infrastructure upgrades, and partnerships with federal and non-federal entities; (3) support workforce development; (4) collaborate across DoD and federal entities; (5) promote next-generation feedstocks for local economic growth; (6) modernize facilities; and (7) establish performance metrics—prioritizing technologies that reduce logistics (e.g., bio-cement), enhance performance (e.g., protective coatings), and cut foreign supply chain dependency. Not later than 90 days after commencing the program, the Secretary must submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees a plan for allocating appropriations; annual reports detailing activities, partnerships, infrastructure, performance, challenges, and recommendations are required thereafter until program termination, in unclassified form with a possible classified annex. Program authority terminates 10 years after enactment, unless extended by the President upon determining continuation necessary to meet national economic needs.