I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8539 
To establish the Office of Biotechnology Policy in the Department of 
Agriculture, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 23, 2024 
Mr. KHANNA (for himself and Mrs. BICE) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To establish the Office of Biotechnology Policy in the 
Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Agricultural Bio-
technology Coordination Act of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. BIOTECHNOLOGY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRI-
CULTURE. 
(a) PRIORITIZATION.—The Secretary of Agriculture 
shall prioritize biotechnology at the Department of Agri-
culture by providing for the effective coordination of poli-
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cies and activities with respect to biotechnology, biomanu-
facturing, synthetic biology, and related emerging tech-
nologies. 
(b) OFFICE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY POLICY.—Subtitle 
A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act 
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 224B. OFFICE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY POLICY. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish within the Department the Office of Biotechnology 
Policy (referred to in this section as the ‘Office’). 
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR.—The Office shall be headed by a Di-
rector (referred to in this section as the ‘Director’), who 
shall report directly to the Secretary or a designee of the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES OF THE OFFICE.—The Office shall be 
responsible for— 
‘‘(1) the development and coordination of poli-
cies, activities, and services of the Department with 
respect to biotechnology and related topics, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(A) research and development; 
‘‘(B) communication, extension, and edu-
cation; 
‘‘(C) regulation and labeling; and 
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‘‘(D) commercialization, use, and trade; 
‘‘(2) assisting other offices and agencies of the 
Department in fulfilling their responsibilities relating 
to biotechnology under applicable laws; and 
‘‘(3) carrying out such other duties as are re-
quired by law or determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—In support of 
the duties required under subsection (c), the Director shall 
provide leadership to ensure coordination of interagency 
activities with the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
Food and Drug Administration, and other Federal and 
State agencies. 
‘‘(e) OUTREACH.—In carrying out the duties of the 
Office under this section, the Director shall consult as nec-
essary with biotechnology developers, academics, agricul-
tural producers, and other entities that may be affected 
by biotechnology-related activities or actions of the De-
partment or other Federal or State agencies.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subtitle A of the 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is 
amended by redesignating section 225 (7 U.S.C. 6925) 
(relating to the Food Access Liaison) as section 224A. 
Æ 
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