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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9628 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9628

  To direct the Secretary of Defense to collaborate with a federally 
  funded research and development center to assess the biotechnology 
    capabilities of adversaries of the United States, 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 Secretary of Defense to collaborate with a federally 
  funded research and development center to assess the biotechnology 
    capabilities of adversaries of the United States, 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 ``Assessment of Critical Technologies 
in Adversarial Ventures and Emerging Threats Act'' or the ``ACTIVATE 
Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT 
              FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY CAPABILITIES OF 
              ADVERSARIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter 
into an agreement with a federally funded research and development 
center to conduct an assessment related to biotechnology and provide 
recommendations to the Secretary.
    (b) Agreement Elements.--Under an agreement between the Secretary 
and a federally funded research and development center under this 
section, the center shall agree to--
            (1) conduct an assessment of--
                    (A) scientific topics related to biotechnology;
                    (B) scientific capabilities of potential 
                adversaries of the United States, such as China, Iran, 
                and the Russian Federation, related to biotechnology; 
                and
                    (C) the current gaps and future scientific and 
                technological needs for adversaries of the United 
                States to be successful with respect to biotechnology 
                capabilities; and
            (2) develop recommendations with respect to useful 
        indications of any advancement of such adversaries regarding 
        such capabilities.
    (c) Responsibilities of Secretary.--Under an agreement between the 
Secretary and a federally funded research and development center under 
this section, the Secretary shall agree to--
            (1) appoint appropriate Department of Defense employees as 
        liaisons to the center to support the timely conduct of the 
        assessment described in subsection (b)(1);
            (2) provide the center with access to materials relevant to 
        the conduct of such assessment, consistent with the protection 
        of sources and methods and other critically sensitive 
        information; and
            (3) ensure that appropriate members and staff of the center 
        have the necessary clearances, obtained in an expedited manner, 
        to conduct such assessment.
    (d) Report.--
            (1) In general.--If the Secretary enters into an agreement 
        with a federally funded research and development center under 
        this section, not later than October 1, 2025, the Secretary 
        shall submit to the congressional defense committees and the 
        National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology a report 
        that includes the findings and recommendations of the center 
        developed pursuant to the assessment described in subsection 
        (b)(1).
            (2) Form of report.--The report under paragraph (1) shall 
        be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
        annex.
            (3) Transmittal to other department entities.--The 
        Secretary shall transmit to relevant offices of the Department 
        of Defense, including the offices of the Under Secretary of 
        Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of 
        Defense for Research and Engineering, the Under Secretary of 
        Defense for Policy, the Under Secretary of Defense for 
        Intelligence and Security, and the Office of Net Assessment, a 
        copy of the report under paragraph (1).
                                 <all>
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