Summary
The Risky Research Review Act would establish a new independent agency called the Life Sciences Research Security Board to oversee federal funding decisions for high-risk life sciences research. High-risk research is defined as studies involving organisms, viruses, or related products that could be misused to threaten public health or enhance the transmissibility or severity of dangerous pathogens like Ebola. The board would review proposed research, determine whether federal agencies can fund it, and set minimum safety controls for approved projects.
Under this bill, research institutions seeking federal funding would be required to declare whether their work qualifies as high-risk life sciences research. Federal agencies would need to verify these declarations and submit high-risk proposals to the board for approval before awarding funds. The board would weigh whether research benefits justify the risks involved. Institutions that fail to properly disclose their research could lose federal funding eligibility, and agency employees who don't follow the requirements could face disciplinary action.
This bill has been approved by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and is now eligible for a floor vote in the Senate. If enacted, it would create a new layer of review for certain federally-funded life sciences research to help prevent dangerous pathogens or techniques from being developed or misused.
AI-generated summary
Lifecycle of the Bill
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jul 30, 2025
HearingSenateMeeting
Jul 30, 2025 · 14:00
Business meeting to consider S.854, to amend title 31, United States Code, to establish the Life Sciences Research Security Board, S.855, to require executive branch employees to report certain royalties, S.269, to improve coordination between Federal and State agencies and the Do Not Pay working system, S.81, to require a guidance clarity statement on certain agency guidance, S.861, to streamline the sharing of information among Federal disaster assistance agencies, to expedite the delivery of life-saving assistance to disaster survivors, to speed the recovery of communities from disasters, to protect the security and privacy of information provided by disaster survivors, S.766, to require an annual report of taxpayer-funded projects that are over budget and behind schedule, S.872, to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to ensure that other transaction agreements are reported to USAspending.gov, S.727, to correct the inequitable denial of enhanced retirement and annuity benefits to certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers, S.874, to ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, S.594, to amend the Post-Katrina Management Reform Act of 2006 to repeal certain obsolete requirements, S.865, to amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require certain disclosures by registrants regarding exemptions under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, S.856, to amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to clarify a provision relating to certain contents of registrations under that Act, S.850, to amend the Northern Border Security Review Act to require updates to the northern border threat analysis and the northern border strategy, S.848, to provide for joint reports by relevant Federal agencies to Congress regarding incidents of terrorism, and S.572, to enhance the effectiveness of the Shadow Wolves Program; to be immediately followed by a business meeting to consider S.1498, to amend chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code, to prohibit transactions involving certain financial instruments by Members of Congress, the nominations of Pedro Allende, of Florida, to be Under Secretary for Science and Technology, and Sean Plankey, of Pennsylvania, to be Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, both of the Department of Homeland Security, Christopher Fox, of Virginia, to be Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Edward Aloysius O'Connell, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years.
Summary
On July 30, 2025, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a business meeting to consider and vote on multiple pieces of legislation and nominations. This was not a hearing with witnesses, but rather a markup session where the committee advanced bills for consideration by the full Senate. The committee voted favorably on 18 bills covering a range of government accountability and security issues. Key legislation included S. 1498, the HONEST Act, which would prohibit Members of Congress, the President, Vice President, and their spouses and dependent children from owning or trading certain financial assets such as stocks, bonds, commodities, and digital assets. The committee also advanced S. 874, the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act, which expands protections for federal contractor employees who refuse to obey unlawful orders or disclose evidence of misconduct. Other bills addressed topics including life sciences research security, disaster assistance coordination, federal spending transparency, northern border security, and lobbying disclosure requirements. The committee also considered four nominations to the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. Passage of these bills by the committee does not guarantee they will advance further in the legislative process, as they must still be voted on by the full Senate and reconciled with any House versions before becoming law.
Video
Watch videoCommittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report.
Sep 17, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report.
Sep 17, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jul 30, 2025
HearingSenateMeeting
Jul 30, 2025 · 14:00
Business meeting to consider S.854, to amend title 31, United States Code, to establish the Life Sciences Research Security Board, S.855, to require executive branch employees to report certain royalties, S.269, to improve coordination between Federal and State agencies and the Do Not Pay working system, S.81, to require a guidance clarity statement on certain agency guidance, S.861, to streamline the sharing of information among Federal disaster assistance agencies, to expedite the delivery of life-saving assistance to disaster survivors, to speed the recovery of communities from disasters, to protect the security and privacy of information provided by disaster survivors, S.766, to require an annual report of taxpayer-funded projects that are over budget and behind schedule, S.872, to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to ensure that other transaction agreements are reported to USAspending.gov, S.727, to correct the inequitable denial of enhanced retirement and annuity benefits to certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers, S.874, to ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, S.594, to amend the Post-Katrina Management Reform Act of 2006 to repeal certain obsolete requirements, S.865, to amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require certain disclosures by registrants regarding exemptions under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, S.856, to amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to clarify a provision relating to certain contents of registrations under that Act, S.850, to amend the Northern Border Security Review Act to require updates to the northern border threat analysis and the northern border strategy, S.848, to provide for joint reports by relevant Federal agencies to Congress regarding incidents of terrorism, and S.572, to enhance the effectiveness of the Shadow Wolves Program; to be immediately followed by a business meeting to consider S.1498, to amend chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code, to prohibit transactions involving certain financial instruments by Members of Congress, the nominations of Pedro Allende, of Florida, to be Under Secretary for Science and Technology, and Sean Plankey, of Pennsylvania, to be Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, both of the Department of Homeland Security, Christopher Fox, of Virginia, to be Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Edward Aloysius O'Connell, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years.
Summary
On July 30, 2025, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a business meeting to consider and vote on multiple pieces of legislation and nominations. This was not a hearing with witnesses, but rather a markup session where the committee advanced bills for consideration by the full Senate. The committee voted favorably on 18 bills covering a range of government accountability and security issues. Key legislation included S. 1498, the HONEST Act, which would prohibit Members of Congress, the President, Vice President, and their spouses and dependent children from owning or trading certain financial assets such as stocks, bonds, commodities, and digital assets. The committee also advanced S. 874, the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act, which expands protections for federal contractor employees who refuse to obey unlawful orders or disclose evidence of misconduct. Other bills addressed topics including life sciences research security, disaster assistance coordination, federal spending transparency, northern border security, and lobbying disclosure requirements. The committee also considered four nominations to the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. Passage of these bills by the committee does not guarantee they will advance further in the legislative process, as they must still be voted on by the full Senate and reconciled with any House versions before becoming law.
Video
Watch videoCommittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report.
Sep 17, 2025
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report.
Sep 17, 2025
Congress
119th Congress
Introduced
Mar 5, 2025
