H.R. 7832 — America’s Living Library Act

This section establishes within the U.S. Geological Survey a pilot program, the America’s Living Library Project, to facilitate collection of new genomic data from species (animals, plants, fungi, and microbes) found in units of the National Park System. The Secretary of the Interior (acting through the USGS Director) must coordinate with the National Park Service, Department of Agriculture, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, National Center for Biotechnology Information, and other agencies to (1) collect, catalog, and whole-genome sequence samples, subject to permitting under specified wildlife laws including 18 U.S.C. §42 (injurious wildlife), the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Lacey Act; (2) create a publicly available genomic database including long-read sequences, assemblies, annotations, and metadata (withholding personally identifiable and sensitive locality information); (3) integrate taxonomic systems such as the Integrated Taxonomic Information System; and (4) provide long-term sample storage. The section further directs the Secretary to establish or designate a USGS office to administer the program, hire staff, enter contracts or agreements with federal and nonfederal entities, accept vetted in-kind contributions from biotechnology companies limited to materials and sequencing capabilities, and use other agencies’ resources with consent. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary must select, in consultation with the National Park Service Director, 5 initial National Park System units based on criteria including biological landscape, implementation feasibility, operational readiness, and quality of education.