Sponsors (2)
Need help making sense of this bill?
This is not an official government website.
Copyright © 2026 PLEJ LC. All rights reserved.
Creates a new Office of Biotechnology Policy inside the Department of Agriculture to coordinate the Department’s work on biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, and related technologies. A Director reporting to the Secretary will guide policy across research, education, regulation, and commercialization, and will lead coordination with other federal agencies. The Office must consult with stakeholders and align USDA activities to support responsible development and use of these technologies. A conforming amendment authorizes the Secretary to carry out the new section. No specific funding, programs, or deadlines are detailed.
Secretary shall prioritize biotechnology in the Department by providing for effective coordination of policies and activities related to biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, and related emerging technologies.
The Secretary shall establish within the Department an office to be known as the Office of Biotechnology Policy (the Office).
The Office shall be headed by a Director who shall report directly to the Secretary (or a designee).
The Office shall develop and coordinate Department policies, activities, and services with respect to biotechnology and related topics, including research and development.
The Office shall develop and coordinate Department policies, activities, and services with respect to biotechnology and related topics, including communication, extension, and education.
Inserts a new section 223 (Office of Biotechnology Policy) into Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 immediately after section 222 (7 U.S.C. 6923). The new section establishes the Office of Biotechnology Policy within the Department, headed by a Director reporting to the Secretary (or designee), defines duties (coordination of policies and activities regarding biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, and related technologies; research and development; communication, extension, and education; regulation and labeling; commercialization, use, and trade; assisting other Department offices and agencies; and other duties), requires interagency coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration and other relevant Federal and State agencies, and requires consultation with biotechnology developers, academics, agricultural producers, and other affected entities.
Amends section 296(b) (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) by adding at the end a new paragraph (11) that preserves the Secretary's authority to carry out section 223 (the newly established Office of Biotechnology Policy) as an exception to the termination of the reorganization authorities described in subsection (a).
Expand sections to see detailed analysis
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced September 3, 2025 by Alejandro Padilla · Last progress September 3, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced in Senate