Young, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ensure American Leadership in AI and Biotech
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act. The legislation would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish standards that will support American leadership in the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology.
High-quality biological data has become a strategic asset in the global tech competition, yet the United State currently lacks the digital infrastructure and national standards needed to ensure our researchers and innovators have world-class biological datasets. Conversely, China has recognized the importance of this data and made it a priority, often at the expense of the U.S.
The AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act would counter China’s efforts and support American research and innovation by authorizing NIST to create standards, definitions, and resources to ensure biological datasets are ready for further research, AI-enabled discoveries, and other cutting-edge innovation.
“Ushering in the Golden Age of Innovation is about more than just winning the global tech race – it’s about securing the safety and prosperity of our country for generations to come. Our bill is an important step in this effort and will better ensure the United States has the infrastructure in place to lead the 21st century,”said Senator Young.
“New Mexico is a rapidly growing hub for biotechnology and computational biology. That’s why I’m introducing legislation that will help support research at Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, as well as our universities and growing bioscience industries,” said Senator Luján. “The AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act will establish a national framework to standardize federally funded biological datasets so they can be readily used to train advanced AI systems. It will also simplify data sharing across federal agencies, improving federal oversight and research capabilities across the country.”
Full text of the Senate AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act can be found here. A summary of the legislation can be found here.
U.S. Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), a fellow NSCEB commissioner, and Jay Obernotle (R-CA-23) introduced companion legislation in the House.
“America’s ability to lead in AI-driven biotechnology depends on high-quality biological data. Without clear standards, our researchers waste valuable time dealing with incompatible datasets instead of driving breakthroughs. I’m proud to introduce the AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act to build the data infrastructure and standards we need to accelerate innovation, strengthen our economy, and protect our national security,” said Representative Khanna.
“The convergence of artificial intelligence and biotechnology will define the next era of American innovation,” said Representative Obernolte. “We currently lack common standards for biological data, which limits our ability to fully harness AI and puts us at risk of falling behind competitors like China. The AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act will help us build the infrastructure and frameworks needed to power breakthrough discoveries, strengthen our national security, and keep the United States at the forefront of the AI and biotech revolution.”
In April 2025, NSCEB delivered a report and action plan to Congress, which included several recommendations to ensure U.S. leadership in the convergence of AI and biotech. Four of those recommendations were reflected in the Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan, which was released in July 2025. The AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act is the final piece of legislation introduced to codify the four shared priorities between NSCEB and the AI Action Plan. Other legislation includes Senator Young’s Cloud LAB Act and America’s Living Library Act, along with theBiosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act.
“The intersection of AI and biology is opening extraordinary opportunities that will shape the future of medicine, industry, and innovation,” said NSCEB Vice Chair Michelle Rozo. “To realize the full promise of the AI–bio era, America’s scientists must have access to high-quality biological data curated for discovery. In our April 2025 report, the NSCEB emphasized the importance of improving interoperability across existing biological datasets to create stronger training data for AI models. This legislation helps turn that recommendation into reality.”