Protect America’s Biomedical Research Enterprise Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.6305 | Sponsor: Rep. Hudson, Richard (R-NC)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Protect America's Biomedical Research Enterprise Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to evaluate ways to better protect intellectual property, sensitive medical information, and similar information used in biomedical research and development from national security risks and related threats.
In particular, HHS must identify national security risks and potential misuse of proprietary information and develop strategies to prevent or mitigate such risks and misuse in federally funded biomedical research and development. HHS must also develop a framework to identify areas of federally funded biomedical research and development that are emerging areas of interest to state actors and regularly review its recommendations and policies related to the protection of biomedical research and development.
In carrying out these activities, HHS must collaborate with relevant federal agencies (such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation) and consult with research institutions, research advocacy organizations, and other experts.

To ensure the security of biomedical research, 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 ``Protect America's Biomedical 
Research Enterprise Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. PROTECTING AMERICA'S BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ENTERPRISE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), in collaboration 
with Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the 
Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation, and the heads of other relevant departments and 
agencies, and in consultation with research institutions and research 
advocacy organizations or other relevant experts, as appropriate, 
shall--
            (1) identify ways to improve the protection of intellectual 
        property and other proprietary information, as well as 
        identifiable, sensitive information of participants in 
        biomedical research and development, from national security 
        risks and other applicable threats, including the 
        identification of gaps in policies and procedures in such areas 
        related to biomedical research and development supported by the 
        Department of Health and Human Services and biomedical research 
        supported by other agencies as applicable, and make 
        recommendations to institutions of higher education or other 
        entities that have traditionally received Federal funding for 
        biomedical research to protect such information;
            (2) identify or develop strategies to prevent, mitigate, 
        and address national security threats in biomedical research 
        and development supported by the Federal Government, including 
        such threats associated with foreign talent programs, by 
        countries seeking to exploit United States technology and other 
        proprietary information as it relates to such biomedical 
        research and development;
            (3) identify national security risks and potential misuse 
        of proprietary information, and identifiable, sensitive 
        information of biomedical research participants and other 
        applicable risks, including with respect to peer review, and 
        make recommendations for additional policies and procedures to 
        protect such information;
            (4) develop a framework to identify areas of biomedical 
        research and development supported by the Federal Government 
        that are emerging areas of interest for state actors and would 
        compromise national security if they were to be subjected to 
        undue foreign influence; and
            (5) regularly review recommendations or policies developed 
        under this section and make additional recommendations or 
        updates, as appropriate.
    (b) Report to President and to Congress.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare 
and submit, in a manner that does not compromise national security, to 
the President and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence of the House of Representatives, and other congressional 
committees as appropriate, a report on the findings and recommendations 
pursuant to subsection (a).
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