WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), joined Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) today reintroduced the Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2021. This legislation would strengthen America’s bioeconomy by establishing an initiative to advance research and development in engineering biology, advancing biomanufacturing, developing the future bioeconomy workforce, and supporting research in ethical, legal, environmental, safety, security, and societal issues. The legislation would also establish a committee to coordinate research in engineering biology across federal agencies.
“It’s important that we act now to strengthen America’s bioeconomy to reinforce our position as the global leader in this field. Increasing access to STEM opportunities is vital for the future of our country and will help expand the research and development capabilities that move our country forward. I’m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation that will help advance our bioeconomy and workforce,” Senator Capito said.
“Biotechnology and life sciences innovation drives our bioeconomy,” Senator Markey said. “It is critical that the United States remain a leader in engineering biology research and innovation—particularly as other countries accelerate their bioeconomy investments—and that we continue to support the hundreds of thousands of workers in the health, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors that contribute to this field. This bill will ensure that we remain a global bioeconomy leader and enable us to best coordinate bioengineering research.”
“Investing in engineering biology research is critical for our country now and for our future,” Senator Gillibrand said. “In addition to helping scientists develop a vaccine to protect Americans from the deadly coronavirus, the importance of engineering biology research touches everything from our food, to our environment, to our health care. Strengthening and coordinating our nation’s research initiatives will not only make us safer, it will bolster our economy and put the United States at the forefront of global research leadership. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan bill in the Senate.”
“Cutting-edge innovation, technology, and discovery are all driving forces of America’s economic prosperity,” Senator Rubio said. “As we’ve seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, investing in engineering biology research is critical for our health and economic stability. I am proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation to strengthen both our economy and our research capability.”
Full text the legislation can be found here.
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