Sponsors (3)
The bill sharply strengthens U.S. tools to deter and punish foreign chemical/biological wrongdoing—speeding targeted sanctions and export controls—but raises the risk of diplomatic retaliation, economic harm to U.S. businesses and financial institutions, disruption of scientific cooperation, and higher enforcement costs for taxpayers.
State and national governments facing chemical or biological programs/attacks will have stronger U.S. sanction authorities and broader triggers, increasing accountability and deterring state-sponsored chemical/biological harm.
Identified individual foreign officials can be sanctioned quickly (President must act within 60 days when credible information exists), enabling faster, targeted responses to misconduct.
Congress will receive specific reports describing proposed individual sanctions, increasing transparency and congressional oversight of enforcement decisions.
U.S. citizens, exporters, and state-to-state relations may face increased diplomatic tensions and retaliatory measures as sanction authorities expand, risking harm to trade and Americans abroad.
U.S. exporters, contractors, financial institutions, and small businesses could lose sales and face operational complications from broad export/procurement bans and financial transaction prohibitions.
Researchers, hospitals, and academic institutions will have scientific cooperation suspended, disrupting joint research programs and delaying scientific and public‑health progress.
Based on analysis of 10 sections of legislative text.
Creates a process to find and sanction foreign officials tied to chemical/biological acts, suspends scientific cooperation, restricts exports and procurement, and mandates follow-up reporting and sanctions.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Barry Moore · Last progress February 12, 2026
Expands U.S. authority to identify and punish foreign government officials, employees, or agents who are credibly linked to chemical or biological programs or acts that cause injury or damage to other countries. It creates a new individual-focused determination and reporting track, requires the President to impose near-term restrictions (including suspending scientific cooperation and restricting exports and procurement) after such a determination, and mandates follow-up reporting and additional sanctions if the foreign country fails to respond or cooperate. Implements new procedures for how determinations are made and reported to Congress, broadens the statutory bases for sanctions to include acts “concerning a chemical or biological program,” and provides a menu of required and discretionary sanctions intended to pressure foreign governments and entities to address or prevent chemical/biological “covered acts.”