[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2692 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2692

 To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to 
require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish in the Department of 
 Agriculture an Office of Biotechnology Policy, and for other purposes.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 3, 2025

Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Young) introduced the following bill; 
  which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, 
                        Nutrition, and Forestry

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                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to 
require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish in the Department of 
 Agriculture an Office of Biotechnology Policy, 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 ``Agricultural Biotechnology 
Coordination Act''.

SEC. 2. OFFICE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY POLICY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by inserting after section 222 (7 
U.S.C. 6923) the following:

``SEC. 223. OFFICE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY POLICY.

    ``(a) Prioritizing Biotechnology.--The Secretary shall prioritize 
biotechnology in the Department by providing for the effective 
coordination of policies and activities with respect to biotechnology, 
biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, and related emerging technologies.
    ``(b) Establishment of Office.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish within the 
        Department an office, to be known as the `Office of 
        Biotechnology Policy' (referred to in this section as the 
        `Office').
            ``(2) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a Director, 
        who shall report directly to the Secretary (or a designee).
    ``(c) Duties.--The Office shall be responsible for--
            ``(1) the development and coordination of policies, 
        activities, and services of the Department with respect to 
        biotechnology and related topics, including--
                    ``(A) research and development;
                    ``(B) communication, extension, and education;
                    ``(C) regulation and labeling; and
                    ``(D) commercialization, use, and trade;
            ``(2) assisting other offices and agencies of the 
        Department in fulfilling responsibilities relating to 
        biotechnology under applicable law; and
            ``(3) carrying out such other duties as are required under 
        law or determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.
    ``(d) Interagency Coordination.--In support of the duties under 
this section, the Office shall provide leadership to ensure 
coordination of interagency activities with--
            ``(1) the Environmental Protection Agency;
            ``(2) the Food and Drug Administration; and
            ``(3) other relevant Federal and State agencies.
    ``(e) Consultation.--In carrying out the duties under this section, 
the Office shall consult as necessary with biotechnology developers, 
academics, agricultural producers, and other entities that may be 
affected by biotechnology-related activities or actions of the 
Department or other Federal or State agencies.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 296(b) of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) The authority of the Secretary to carry out section 
        223.''.
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