Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act

Bill: 117-s-3012
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
Introduced: 2021-10-19
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Education programs funding

Health programs administration and funding

Higher education

Infectious and parasitic diseases

International Affairs

Medical research

Research administration and funding
Latest action: action_date: 2021-10-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-10-19
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act</strong></p> <p> This bill prohibits the award of federal research grants to institutions of higher education or research institutes that conduct gain-of-function research. <em>Gain-of-function research </em>refers to any research that (1) may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in an organism; or (2) involves the enhancement of potential pandemic pathogens or related risky research with potentially dangerous pathogens.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3012 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 19, 2021 Mr. Marshall (for himself, Mr. Paul , Ms. Ernst , Mr. Tuberville , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Hagerty , Mr. Braun , Mr. Lankford , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Cotton , and Mr. Wicker ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To provide a moratorium on all Federal research grants provided to any institution of higher education or other research institute that is conducting gain-of-function research.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act . 2. Prohibition on Federal research grants for institutions and research institutes conducting gain-of-function research (a) Definition of gain-of-Function research In this section, the term gain-of-function research means any research that— (1) may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in any organism; or (2) involves the enhancement of potential pandemic pathogens or related risky research with potentially dangerous pathogens. (b) Prohibition Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no research grants supported by Federal funds may be awarded to institutions of higher education, or other research institutes, that are conducting gain-of-function research.