Plain English summary not yet available
The full original text is available below. Check back soon as we process this bill.
I
116TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 8045
To require the Department of Homeland Security to develop a threat assess-
ment on the potential homeland security vulnerabilities associated with
genome modification and editing, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 14, 2020
Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. TRONE) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To require the Department of Homeland Security to develop
a threat assessment on the potential homeland security
vulnerabilities associated with genome modification and
editing, 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 ‘‘Genome Editing
4
Threat Assessment Act’’.
5
SEC. 2. GENOME EDITING THREAT ASSESSMENT.
6
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the
7
date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary
8
VerDate Sep 11 2014
00:25 Sep 02, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8045.IH
H8045
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
2
•HR 8045 IH
for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office
1
of the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination
2
with the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of
3
the Department, the Under Secretary for the Science and
4
Technology Directorate of the Department, and other
5
Federal partners, as appropriate, shall develop a threat
6
assessment
on
the
potential
homeland
security
7
vulnerabilities associated with genome modification and
8
editing. Such threat assessment shall include information
9
relating to the following:
10
(1) The dual-use of emerging biotechnology.
11
(2) The ability of gene editing to maliciously
12
proliferate infectious diseases and pandemics on
13
human, animal, and plant populations.
14
(3) The cybersecurity vulnerabilities in com-
15
puter systems analyzing genomic data.
16
(4) Privacy concerns associated with analyzing
17
genomic data.
18
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Upon completion of the
19
threat assessment required under subsection (a), the Sec-
20
retary of Homeland Security shall make a determination
21
if any changes to future operations of the Department of
22
Homeland Security are required to address security
23
vulnerabilities identified in such assessment.
24
VerDate Sep 11 2014
00:25 Sep 02, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8045.IH
H8045
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
3
•HR 8045 IH
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the com-
1
pletion of the threat assessment required under subsection
2
(a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, consistent
3
with the protection of classified information, report to the
4
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Rep-
5
resentatives and the Committee on Homeland Security
6
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate on the findings
7
of such threat assessment, any identified recommenda-
8
tions, plans for incorporating such recommendations into
9
future operations of the Department of Homeland Secu-
10
rity, and any proposed legislative changes informed by
11
such threat assessment.
12
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
00:25 Sep 02, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H8045.IH
H8045
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS