Federal

Viral Gain-of-Function Research Moratorium Act

Source: Congress.gov · 444 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill stops the federal government from giving research grants to colleges and research institutes that are doing gain-of-function research. Gain-of-function research means studies that could make certain viruses more dangerous or easier to spread, or research that could enhance pandemic pathogens (viruses that spread widely through populations and cause disease). The bill creates a moratorium, or temporary pause, on these federal grants.

Who It Affects

Institutions of higher education (colleges and universities) and other research institutes that conduct gain-of-function research.

Key Provisions

* No federal research grants can be awarded to colleges, universities or research institutes that are conducting gain-of-function research (Sec. 2(b)) * Gain-of-function research is defined as research that could give influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in any organism (Sec. 2(a)(1)) * Gain-of-function research also includes methods that could enhance potential pandemic pathogens or related risky research involving dangerous pathogens (Sec. 2(a)(2))

What Changes

Research institutions conducting gain-of-function research would lose access to federal research grant funding.

Important Definitions

Gain-of-function research: research that could make influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses more pathogenic (disease-causing) or transmissible (able to spread), or research using methods that could enhance pandemic pathogens or risky research with dangerous pathogens.

II Calendar No. 5 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 81 To provide a moratorium on all Federal research grants provided to any institution of higher education or other research institute that is con- ducting gain-of-function research. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JANUARY 25, 2023 Mr. MARSHALL (for himself, Mr. PAUL, Ms. ERNST, Mr. TUBERVILLE, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. LANKFORD, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. COTTON, and Mr. WICKER) introduced the following bill; which was read the first time JANUARY 26, 2023 Read the second time and placed on the calendar 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 re- search. 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 ‘‘Viral Gain-of-Function 4 Research Moratorium Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:32 Jan 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S81.PCS S81 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 81 PCS SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANTS 1 FOR INSTITUTIONS AND RESEARCH INSTI- 2 TUTES CONDUCTING GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RE- 3 SEARCH. 4 (a) DEFINITION OF GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RE- 5 SEARCH.—In this section, the term ‘‘gain-of-function re- 6 search’’ means any research that— 7 (1) could confer attributes to influenza, MERS, 8 or SARS viruses such that the virus would have en- 9 hanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in any orga- 10 nism; or 11 (2) involves methods that could enhance poten- 12 tial pandemic pathogens or related risky research 13 with potentially dangerous pathogens. 14 (b) PROHIBITION.—Notwithstanding any other provi- 15 sion of law, no research grants supported by Federal funds 16 may be awarded to institutions of higher education, or 17 other research institutes, that are conducting gain-of-func- 18 tion research. 19 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:32 Jan 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S81.PCS S81 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:32 Jan 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S81.PCS S81 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS Calendar No. 5 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 81 A BILL To provide a moratorium on all Federal research grants provided to any institution of higher edu- cation or other research institute that is con- ducting gain-of-function research. JANUARY 26, 2023 Read the second time and placed on the calendar VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:32 Jan 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\S81.PCS S81 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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.