Federal

Pausing Enhanced Pandemic Pathogen Research Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 445 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill stops the National Institutes of Health from conducting or supporting gain-of-function research (research that makes germs more dangerous or able to spread). The ban lasts until March 30, 2028. The bill also defines what counts as gain-of-function research.

Who It Affects

The National Institutes of Health and any organizations that receive grants or subgrants (smaller grants) from the agency.

Key Provisions

* The National Institutes of Health cannot conduct or support gain-of-function research, whether directly or indirectly through subgrants, until March 30, 2028 (Sec. 2, 404P(a)). * The ban does not apply to studying naturally occurring influenza viruses or coronaviruses unless that study could increase how dangerous or transmissible they are (Sec. 2, 404P(b)). * Gain-of-function research includes any research that could make a pathogen (a germ that causes disease) more transmissible (able to spread), virulent (more damaging), or pathogenic (disease-causing) in ways that could result in the pathogen becoming moderately or highly transmissible in humans, causing significant illness or death in humans, or posing a severe threat to public health or national security (Sec. 2, 404P(c)).

What Changes

If this becomes law, the National Institutes of Health must stop conducting and stop funding gain-of-function research through direct funding and subgrants until March 30, 2028.

Important Definitions

Gain-of-function research is defined as research that could enhance how transmissible, damaging, or disease-causing any pathogen or agent is in a way that could result in it becoming moderately or highly transmissible in humans, causing significant illness or death, or posing a severe threat to public health or national security.

Effective Date

The prohibition takes effect when the bill becomes law and expires on March 30, 2028.

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1827 To prohibit the National Institutes of Health from conducting or supporting certain gain-of-function research, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 28, 2023 Mr. CARTER of Georgia (for himself, Mr. CUELLAR, and Mr. GALLAGHER) in- troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En- ergy and Commerce A BILL To prohibit the National Institutes of Health from con- ducting or supporting certain gain-of-function research, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pausing Enhanced 4 Pandemic Pathogen Research Act of 2023’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:58 Apr 08, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1827.IH H1827 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 1827 IH SEC. 2. NO CONDUCT OR SUPPORT BY NIH OF GAIN-OF- 1 FUNCTION RESEARCH. 2 Part A of title IV of the Public Health Service Act 3 (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 4 the following: 5 ‘‘SEC. 404P. GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH. 6 ‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—During the period ending on 7 March 30, 2028, the National Institutes of Health shall 8 not conduct or support, directly or indirectly, including 9 through subgrants, any gain-of-function research. 10 ‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—This section does not apply to 11 characterization or testing of any naturally occurring in- 12 fluenza virus or coronavirus, unless the characterization 13 or testing could increase pathogenicity or transmissibility. 14 ‘‘(c) GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH DEFINED.—In 15 this section, the term ‘gain-of-function research’ means 16 any research that could enhance the transmissibility, 17 virulence, or pathogenicity of any pathogen (whether or 18 not classified as a pathogen of pandemic potential) or non- 19 pathogen agent in a way that could result in one or more 20 of the following: 21 ‘‘(1) The pathogen or agent becoming mod- 22 erately or highly transmissible, virulent, or patho- 23 genic in human populations. 24 ‘‘(2) The pathogen or agent causing significant 25 morbidity or mortality in humans. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:58 Apr 08, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1827.IH H1827 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 1827 IH ‘‘(3) The pathogen or agent posing a severe 1 threat to public health, the capacity of public health 2 systems, or the national security of the United 3 States.’’. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:58 Apr 08, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1827.IH H1827 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.