[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9626 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9626
To direct the Department of Defense to develop a plan for the
establishment of a secure computing and data storage environment for
the testing of artificial intelligence trained on biological data, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 17, 2024
Mr. Khanna introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Department of Defense to develop a plan for the
establishment of a secure computing and data storage environment for
the testing of artificial intelligence trained on biological data, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``AIxBio Defense Sandbox Act''.
SEC. 2. PLAN FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURE COMPUTING AND DATA STORAGE
ENVIRONMENT FOR TESTING OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
TRAINED ON BIOLOGICAL DATA.
(a) Plan Required.--The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and
Engineering, in coordination with the Chief Digital and Artificial
Intelligence Officer, shall develop a plan for the establishment of a
secure computing and data storage environment to facilitate--
(1) the testing of artificial intelligence models trained
on biological data; and
(2) the development and testing of products generated by
such models.
(b) Elements.--The plan under subsection (a) shall provide as
follows:
(1) Designation.--The secure computing and data storage
environment described in subsection (a) shall be known as the
``AIxBio sandbox''.
(2) Computing and data storage infrastructure.--The AIxBio
sandbox shall consist of a secure computing and data storage
infrastructure to be used for the testing and development
activities described in subsection (a). To the extent feasible,
such infrastructure shall be assembled from the existing
computing and data storage infrastructure organizations and
elements of the Department of Defense with relevant
capabilities, such as the Test Resource Management Center and
the AI Accelerator of the Department of the Air Force.
(3) Responsible official.--The Under Secretary of Defense
for Research and Engineering shall be responsible for--
(A) managing and overseeing the activities of the
sandbox;
(B) coordinating the efforts of the organizations
of the Department involved in the activities of the
sandbox;
(C) selecting projects for development and testing
using the sandbox in accordance with paragraph (4); and
(D) arranging partnerships in accordance with
paragraph (5).
(4) Selection of projects.--The Under Secretary of Defense
for Research and Engineering shall--
(A) identify projects funded, in whole or in part,
by the Department of Defense that--
(i) have demonstrated a proof-of-concept or
another similar indicator of early success or
feasibility; and
(ii) involve the development of a model,
technology, or product at the intersection of
artificial intelligence and biotechnology that
has potential defense applications, such as a
project using artificial intelligence and
biological data--
(I) to direct and produce medical
countermeasures;
(II) to predict and produce new or
enhanced biological materials for
military purposes; or
(III) to analyze how biology could
fulfill different components of the
supply chain, including by improving
the domestic supply chain through the
use of biomanufacturing; and
(B) from projects identified under subparagraph
(A), select projects for further development and
testing using the AIxBio sandbox.
(5) Partnerships.--
(A) In general.--The Under Secretary of Defense for
Research and Engineering shall establish mechanisms
through which organizations and entities involved in
projects of the AIxBio sandbox may work with Department
of Defense laboratories and Department-funded
laboratories of academic institutions to carry out
activities in support of such projects, including
biological testing and experimentation and testing and
experimentation to validate artificial intelligence
models in development.
(B) Streamlined processes.--In carrying out
subparagraph (A), the Under Secretary shall establish a
streamlined processes to facilitate efficient
collaboration between laboratories, organizations of
the Department of Defense, and private entities for
purposes of developing products for national security
purposes and carrying out activities in support of
projects under AIxBio sandbox, including testing and
experimentation.
(6) Other elements.--The plan shall address--
(A) the manner in which existing computing and data
storage infrastructure of the Department of Defense
shall be made available for the AIxBio sandbox in
accordance with paragraph (2);
(B) the development of any mechanisms needed to
facilitate collaboration among individuals and
organizations involved in projects under the AIxBio
sandbox, including any necessary agreements concerning
intellectual property, funding, and the transfer of
materials or other resources;
(C) the process for selecting projects for
development and testing using the sandbox in accordance
with paragraph (4); and
(D) the process for determining the amount of
funding needed for projects under the sandbox,
including the length of time each project is expected
to receive such funding.
(c) Report and Briefing.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research
and Engineering shall--
(1) submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the
Senate and the House of Representatives a report that includes
the plan developed under subsection (a); and
(2) provide to the Committees a briefing on the plan.
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