[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5186 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5186
To authorize the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to support
the defense biotechnology supply chain, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 8, 2025
Mr. Khanna (for himself, Mr. Garamendi, and Mr. Davis of North
Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to support
the defense biotechnology supply chain, 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. BIOTECHNOLOGY SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCY PROGRAM.
(a) Authorization.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination
with the Secretaries of the military departments and the heads
of relevant Defense Agencies, may establish and implement a
program (referred to in this section as the ``Program'') to
develop, scale, and transition biotechnology research from the
military service laboratories, including biotechnology-based
chemicals, materials, fuels, and other products relevant to the
mission of the Department of Defense that support the
resilience, sustainability, and responsiveness of the defense
supply chain.
(2) Activities.--Under the Program, the Secretary of
Defense may carry out the following activities:
(A) Conduct an assessment of supply chain
vulnerabilities in the Department of Defense.
(B) Direct the military service laboratories to
establish mechanisms to collaboratively--
(i) conduct applied research, including
experimentation, advanced technological
development, advanced component development,
and rapid prototyping in bioindustrials,
biomanufacturing, and related disciplines to
support defense missions;
(ii) develop, prototype, test, and
transition biologically derived materials and
products to reduce reliance on foreign supply
chains and vulnerable supply chains;
(iii) upgrade, expand, or construct
physical and digital infrastructure, including
laboratory facilities, of the Department and
its partners to support bioindustrial research,
development, testing, prototyping, and
production;
(iv) as needed, enter into contracts,
cooperative agreements, grants, or other
transactions with relevant Federal entities and
non-Federal entities such as commercial
entities, research institutions, and academic
organizations to execute the activities under
this paragraph; and
(v) support education, training, and
workforce development initiatives to build and
sustain a skilled bioindustrial and
biomanufacturing workforce.
(C) Collaborate across the military departments,
Defense Agencies, and other Federal entities to ensure
alignment with national bioindustrial and supply chain
strategies.
(D) Promote the development and utilization of
next-generation feedstocks and processes in ways that
support local economic growth.
(E) Modernize infrastructure through investment in
facilities that enable rapid prototyping and advanced
materials testing.
(F) Establish performance metrics and benchmarks to
measure progress toward operational integration and
transition to programs of record.
(3) Other considerations.--In the event the Secretary
carries out the Program, the Secretary of Defense shall--
(A) prioritize technologies and capabilities that
address critical defense supply chain vulnerabilities
and enhance military readiness, including technologies
and capabilities necessary to--
(i) reduce logistics through field-enabled
manufacturing of materials such as
construction-grade bio-cement and deployable
infrastructure components;
(ii) enhance performance through
development of novel materials including
protective coatings and biologically derived
composites; or
(iii) improve cost efficiency of
manufacturing and reduce dependency on foreign
supply chains;
(B) consult with representatives of industry,
academia, and other Federal agencies with relevant
expertise, to accelerate development and transitions;
and
(C) ensure the Program supports the development and
fielding of emerging technologies such as
biotechnologies that provide operational and strategic
advantages to the Armed Forces, including through--
(i) cross-service and public-private
partnerships; and
(ii) applied research, pilot-scale
production, and technology transition efforts
focused on biomanufacturing and materials
innovation.
(b) Plan and Reports.--
(1) Initial plan.--Not later than 90 days after electing to
commence the Program, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a plan for the allocation of appropriations to
fund the Program.
(2) Annual reports.--Not later than one year after
commencing the Program, and annually thereafter until the
Program terminates under subsection (c), the Secretary of
Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the
Senate and the House of Representatives a report detailing all
activities carried out under the program. Each report shall
include, to the extent applicable, the following:
(A) A summary of key research, development, and
prototyping efforts initiated or continued during the
year covered by the report, including technical
objectives, anticipated defense applications, and
funding.
(B) A list of significant partnerships or
agreements executed with industry, academic
institutions, and other Federal agencies, including the
purpose, national security nexus, and funding level of
each such partnership or agreement.
(C) An assessment of infrastructure enhancements
undertaken to support bioindustrial development and
scale-up, including facility modernization and
equipment acquisition.
(D) An evaluation of program performance against
established milestones or metrics, including progress
toward the transition of technologies to operational
use or acquisition programs.
(E) An identification of major technical,
logistical, or policy challenges encountered, and
actions taken to mitigate such challenges.
(F) Any recommendations for additional authorities,
funding mechanisms, or interagency coordination
necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the Program.
(3) Form.--Each report under this subsection shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified
annex.
(c) Sunset.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
authority to carry out the Program shall terminate on the date
that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Extension.--The Program may be continued after the
termination date specified in paragraph (1) if, before such
date, the President--
(A) determines that continuation of the Program is
necessary to meet national economic or national
security needs; and
(B) submits notice of such determination to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the
House of Representatives.
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