Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas’s position as the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is keeping him busy with the introduction of yet another bill—the Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2021.
He and Democratic Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas joined efforts to file the legislation to establish a National Engineering Biology Research and Development Program to advance engineering biology research. The bill would also expand the number of engineering biology researchers; accelerate the translation and commercialization of engineering biology; and improve interagency planning and coordination of federal engineering biology research initiatives.
“Bioengineering is a driving force behind life-saving medicine, better food production, cleaner energy, and advanced manufacturing, just to name a few,” said Lucas in announcing the filing of the measure.
As the GOP Representative pointed out, without a strong biotechnology research and development enterprise, the U.S. would not have been able to develop and produce COVID-19 vaccines so quick in 2020.
“The Bioeconomy Research and Development Act will ensure the United States remains the global leader in bioengineering and I’m looking forward to moving it through Congress with Chairwoman Johnson.”
Rep. Johnson agreed and called biology-based innovation one of the greatest tools the U.S. has in addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges.
“It is past time for the United States to recognize the significance of this emerging research area to our economic and national security, and to make this a priority on the level of artificial intelligence and other critical fields,” she said.