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S. 854 Senate Health

Risky Research Review Act

Introduced
Mar 5, 2025
Sponsor
Sen. Paul, Rand (R-KY)
View on Congress.gov

STAGE 3 OF 8 — CALENDARS AND SCHEDULING

Currently in the Senate. Last action: placed on senate legislative calendar under general orders. calendar no. 164 on Sep 17, 2025.

  1. Senate Introduced in Senate Mar 5, 2025
  2. Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Mar 5, 2025
  3. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. Jul 30, 2025
  4. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report. Sep 17, 2025
  5. Senate Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 164. Sep 17, 2025

Cosponsors

1

Subjects

Accounting and auditingAdvisory bodiesBiological and life sciencesCongressional oversightEmployee performanceFederal officialsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsInfectious and parasitic diseasesPublic contracts and procurementResearch administration and funding

Committees

  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
    • Reported By , Sep 17, 2025
    • Markup By , Jul 30, 2025
    • Referred To , Mar 5, 2025

Summary

Risky Research Review Act

This bill establishes the Life Sciences Research Security Board to oversee the award of federal funding for high-risk life sciences research. High-risk life sciences research means the study of an organism, virus, or related product that could be misapplied to pose a significant threat to the public or could enhance the transmissibility or virulence of certain high-risk pathogens (e.g., Ebola).

Specifically, the bill establishes the board as an independent agency that must review proposed high-risk life sciences research, determine whether a federal agency may award funding for the research, and determine minimum required controls for funded research. Entities that are seeking federal funding must attest to whether their research is high-risk life sciences research. Agencies must certify the validity of these attestations and submit proposed high-risk life sciences research to the board. Agencies must also notify the board of intended awards for other life sciences research for potential review. 

In making its determinations, the board must consider specified factors, including whether the benefits of the research outweigh the risks. The bill prohibits agencies from awarding federal funding for high-risk life sciences research without approval of the board or for life sciences research currently under board review. The board may also review awards that were made before the bill’s enactment.

Entities that fail to properly attest to the nature of their research may lose their eligibility for funding. Additionally, agency employees who fail to comply with the bill's requirements are subject to disciplinary action.

Summary as of: Introduced in Senate

Bill Text

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Related Bills

  • Risky Research Review Act (Related bill)

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