House Committee Advances Engineering Biology Research and Development Act with ASM Support
On September 25, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee approved the Engineering Biology Research and Development Act (H.R. 4373). The bill supports the bioeconomy by creating a national initiative to advance engineering biology and bolstering the translation of scientific discoveries into tools, technologies, and therapies that benefit society, our economy, and the world at large.
At the request of Committee leadership, ASM issued a letter of support for the bill given the importance of its provisions to the microbial sciences. For example, a highly interdisciplinary field such as microbiology is strengthened when federal agencies and stakeholders work in a coordinated manner to advance research, technology development and infrastructure.
The bill is now cleared for consideration by the full House at a time to be determined. Its fate in the Senate remains unclear, and there is no companion legislation in the Senate as of now.
