Bice Selected for National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology
Washington, D.C. – The bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), and Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today announced their appointments to the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, which was established by Sec. 1091 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22).
The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology will conduct a thorough review of how advances in emerging biotechnology and related technologies will shape current and future activities of the Department of Defense, provide an interim report to the President of the United States and the Armed Services Committees within one year, and submit a final unclassified report within two years to the President and the committees, including recommendations for action by Congress and the federal government.
Twelve appointed members will make up the Commission, including two members appointed by the HASC Chairman, one Member of the House and one not; two members appointed by the HASC Ranking Member, one Member of the House and one not; two members appointed by the SASC Chairman, one Member of the Senate and one not; two members appointed by the SASC Ranking Member, one Member of the Senate and one not; and one member each appointed by the Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader, respectively.
Rep. Bice issued the following statement:
“Biotechnology is rapidly developing and evolving. Just last year, we saw the Taliban seize U.S. military biometrics devices that could aid in the identification of Afghans who assisted coalition forces. We must maintain our preparedness, especially as countries like China, continue to integrate biotech into their strategic development. I want to thank Ranking Member Rogers for this opportunity and for appointing me to serve on this commission.”
Click here to read the full text of Sec. 1091 in S. 1605, the FY22 NDAA.