USA's Chrissy Houlahan and Stephanie Bice lead launch of BIOTech Caucus to bolster US biotech edge

The United States Congress is getting more organized in its efforts to protect and advance the nation’s standing in biotechnology, as Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) formally announced the launch of the BIOTech Caucus on Thursday. The new bipartisan group intends to craft policy solutions to ensure the US remains competitive in a field seen as increasingly tied to national security, economic growth, and global leadership.

Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), and Pete Sessions (R-TX) are joining the caucus as vice chairs. Together, they plan to engage industry leaders, raise congressional awareness of biotechnology, and promote legislation to grow the domestic bioeconomy.

The caucus launch follows the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology’s report to Congress released in April of this year. That report warned that China is surging ahead in crucial areas of biotechnology, and stressed that congressional action over the next three years will be pivotal to maintaining US leadership. It cautioned that failing to act could leave the US “dangerously, and potentially irrecoverably, behind.”

“The United States must lead the world, with its democratic values, in shaping the future of emerging biotechnology that will fundamentally change our lives across health care, agriculture, manufacturing, and more,” Houlahan said. “I’m thrilled to be working again with Representative Bice and our vice-chairs to tackle a major national issue like we’ve done with paid family leave, and I am committed to working across the aisle to see our biotechnology recommendations come to fruition.”

Bice, who served as a commissioner on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, said her time with the commission deepened her awareness of both the opportunities and threats facing the USA.

“Serving as a commissioner on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology has heightened my awareness of the capabilities and threats from our near-peer adversaries,” Bice said. “The BIOTech Caucus will work to ensure that America remains a leader in biotechnology. We must champion policies that unleash innovation and grow this critical sector.”

The stakes for the US economy are significant. According to data cited in the announcement, the bioscience industry accounted for a US$2.9 trillion impact on the US economy in 2021, supporting 2.1 million jobs across the country.

Khanna said he sees biotechnology as central to America’s future economic success. “Investments in biotechnology will pave America’s path toward economic and scientific leadership in the 21st-century economy. The BIOTech Caucus will be critical to fostering innovation, biosecurity, and success in industries of the future,” Khanna said.

Bilirakis emphasized the broader national interest in keeping the U.S. ahead in biotechnology advances. “America’s leadership in biotechnology is critical to our national security, economic strength, and public health,” he said. “The BIOTech Caucus will ensure that Congress remains informed, engaged, and proactive in supporting innovation, advancing responsible policy, and maintaining our global edge in this vital sector.”

Auchincloss said the caucus will serve as a platform for promoting policy ideas that help biotechnology thrive. “There are a lot of bad ideas about biotech in Washington right now. Congress must promote good ones: expand funding for basic research; protect intellectual property; set high and clear standards; lower co-pays; and take out the middlemen,” he said.

Sessions said he hopes the new caucus will drive bipartisan cooperation to strengthen America’s position in the biotechnology field. “I am looking forward to fostering bipartisan collaboration on the BIOTech Caucus to support cutting-edge research and strengthen America’s competitive edge on the global stage. It is our job in Congress to create an environment where the biotechnology sector can thrive, advancing life-saving breakthroughs, generating high-quality jobs, and fueling economic growth,” Sessions said. “By embracing pro-innovation policies and supporting the entrepreneurial spirit that defines American capitalism, we can secure our future and reinforce the United States as the world leader in innovation.”

Michelle Rozo, vice chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, called the new caucus an important step toward implementing the commission’s recommendations. “Emerging biotechnology is at an inflection point, and the creation of the BIOTech Caucus is a vital and welcome step towards making this impactful technology a national priority,” Rozo said. “I applaud the co-chairs for their thoughtful, bipartisan leadership and look forward to collaborating with them as we work together to implement the NSCEB’s recommendations and strengthen our national and economic security.”

Industry voices welcomed the caucus as well. Kelly Seagraves, Vice President of National Security and International Affairs at BIO, said biotechnology represents both hope for patients and a pillar of economic security. “Biotechnology means hope and health for people and patients around the world, but it also means jobs, economic growth, and national security for Americans. The bipartisan BIOTech Caucus will play a pivotal role in creating the policy and regulatory environment needed to leverage our scientific ingenuity and innovative spirit to advance US leadership in biotechnology. We look forward to working closely with the BIOTech Caucus and its members to address these vital issues,” she said.

India Hook-Barnard, Chief Executive Officer of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium, said, “Biotechnology holds immense potential to strengthen national security, drive innovation in all sectors, and create economic opportunity across America. The recent NSCEB report has underscored the urgency of sustained congressional action to ensure US leadership in emerging biotechnology, and we believe the BIOTech Caucus will play a critical role in advancing that goal. EBRC looks forward to working towards supporting this mission alongside our peer organizations.”

Brooke Coleman, Executive Director of the newly formed American Alliance for Biomanufacturing, noted that policy support is vital for biomanufacturing to thrive. “Today’s launch marks an important milestone in American efforts to lead the world in biomanufacturing,” Coleman said. “U.S. biomanufacturers are delivering a new generation of bio-based products spanning industries as diverse as energy, defense, agriculture, chemicals, ingredients, sweeteners, materials, fabrics, and nutrition, but we need smart policy to stay ahead of the competition. We look forward to working with the BIOTech Caucus to turbo-charge resilience and growth across America’s bioeconomy.”

The BIOTech Caucus plans to hold regular meetings with experts, host public events to increase understanding of biotechnology on Capitol Hill, and advocate for legislation that promotes biosecurity, supports innovation, and builds economic opportunity throughout the country.