Skip to main content

Search Results: keywords:"biotechnology"

  • The bill S. 3558 aims to stop U.S. government agencies from signing contracts with certain biotechnology providers linked to foreign adversaries. It prohibits buying equipment or services from companies like BGI and WuXi AppTec, or any entity that might pose a risk to...

    Simple Explanation

    The bill wants to stop U.S. government from buying things from certain foreign companies that might be a threat and make sure the government keeps an eye on these companies to protect people's information.

  • H.R. 9442, titled the “Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024,” proposes changes to two existing laws concerning foreign investments in U.S. agriculture. The bill aims to include the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in...

    Simple Explanation

    In this bill, they want to make sure that if people from other countries want to buy farmland or do business with U.S. farms, the person in charge of farms, called the Secretary of Agriculture, gets to help decide if it's safe. They also want to make sure everyone understands which countries and deals are a big deal or could be risky.

  • H. R. 1672, titled the "Maintaining Investments in New Innovation Act," is proposed to amend the Social Security Act. It aims to protect access to genetically targeted technologies by changing how certain drug products are classified. This includes redefining qualifying single-source drugs by...

    Simple Explanation

    H.R. 1672 is a rule that aims to help drug makers keep their special rights to sell new, genetically-targeted medicines for a longer time, which could help them make more money but might also mean these medicines stay pricey for a bit longer.

  • H.R. 3378, titled the "Agricultural Security Risk Review Act," seeks to amend the Defense Production Act of 1950. The bill proposes adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. This inclusion will specifically focus on...

    Simple Explanation

    H.R. 3378 is a bill that wants to make sure the person in charge of farming in the U.S. is part of a team that checks if people from other countries can buy things like farms and plant-related businesses in America. This helps protect the farms and food in the country.

  • S. 4421 aims to create an Office of Biotechnology Policy within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This office would focus on improving coordination of biotechnology-related policies and activities, such as research, regulation, and commercialization. The bill outlines the...

    Simple Explanation

    S. 4421 is a plan to create a special office in the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will help make sure everyone works together nicely on projects related to biotechnology, which is like using science to improve plants and animals. This office will talk to other experts and groups to make smart decisions, but the plan doesn't say exactly how they will pay for it or check to see if it’s working well.

  • H. R. 2161 is designed to amend title 18 of the United States Code to ban certain types of human-animal chimeras. The bill defines a "prohibited human-animal chimera" and sets out specific examples, such as embryos resulting from mixing human and nonhuman cells, or nonhuman...

    Simple Explanation

    H.R. 2161 is a plan to stop people from mixing humans and animals to make new creatures. It says doing this is not allowed, and if someone tries, they could have to pay a big fine or even go to jail.

  • H.R. 8333, also known as the "BIOSECURE Act," aims to prevent U.S. government agencies from contracting with certain biotechnology companies deemed as threats to national security. It lists specific firms like BGI and WuXi AppTec and outlines criteria for identifying other...

    Simple Explanation

    The BIOSECURE Act (H.R. 8333) is like a rule saying the U.S. government shouldn't make deals with certain overseas biology companies that could be unsafe, but it lets them help in emergencies or overseas health and spy stuff.

  • H.R. 9456, known as the "Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024," aims to amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 by adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States for transactions involving agricultural land,...

    Simple Explanation

    H.R. 9456 is a plan to protect American farms by making sure the boss of farming in the U.S. checks when certain countries (like China or Russia) want to buy farm lands here, to see if it might be a problem for the country.

  • H.R. 7085, known as the "BIOSECURE Act," seeks to prevent the U.S. government from entering into contracts or using funds for biotechnology services or equipment from certain companies associated with foreign adversaries like China. The bill cites concerns over national security and the...

    Simple Explanation

    The "BIOSECURE Act" is a proposed law that wants to stop the U.S. government from working with certain small biology companies, especially from places the U.S. doesn't trust, like China, because they might be used to spy or take important information. It makes sure money isn't spent on things that could be risky, but figuring out how to do this could be a bit tricky and hard because it's not clear who will pay for keeping track of everything.

  • The bill S. 5444, titled the “Enable Intelligence Community Partnerships Act of 2024,” aims to enhance the intelligence community's ability to engage in public-private talent exchanges. It encourages partnerships with private sector experts in fields like artificial...

    Simple Explanation

    The bill lets people who work with secret agents team up with experts from outside companies for longer times, to share new ideas and skills about technology like computers and robots. It also wants to make sure that everyone follows rules to avoid causing any problems or secrets slipping out.