H.R. 7907

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7907 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7907

To direct the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology to facilitate the establishment of definitions, standards, 
resources, and frameworks to ensure certain biological datasets are 
ready for use in artificial intelligence models, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 12, 2026

Mr. Khanna (for himself and Mr. Obernolte) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology to facilitate the establishment of definitions, standards, 
resources, and frameworks to ensure certain biological datasets are 
ready for use in artificial intelligence models, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``AI-Ready Bio-Data Standards Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS, STANDARDS, RESOURCES, AND FRAMEWORKS BY THE 
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR 
CERTAIN BIOLOGICAL DATASETS.

(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (in this section referred 
to as the ``Director''), pursuant to recommendations from the 
advisory group under subsection (f) and taking into account any 
feedback received under subsection (e), shall facilitate the 
establishment of definitions, standards, resources, and 
frameworks to ensure each biological dataset generated as a 
result of qualified federally funded research is artificial 
intelligence-ready.
(2) Requirements for definitions, standards, resources, and 
frameworks.--
(A) Definitions.--
(i) In general.--In carrying out paragraph 
(1), the Director shall facilitate the 
establishment of definitions for the following 
terms:
(I) Artificial intelligence-ready.
(II) Biomanufacturing.
(III) Biotechnology.
(IV) Qualified federally funded 
research.
(ii) Requirements for definition of 
artificial intelligence-ready.--
(I) In general.--In facilitating 
the establishment of the definition of 
the term ``artificial intelligence-
ready'' under clause (i)(I), the 
Director shall take such actions as may 
be necessary to ensure such definition, 
when applied to a biological dataset, 
requires such dataset be generated and 
formatted in a manner that--
(aa) enables the effective 
use of the dataset for training 
artificial intelligence models; 
and
(bb) supports advancements 
in research relating to 
artificial intelligence and 
biotechnology.
(II) Discretion.--With respect to a 
biological dataset that otherwise 
satisfies the definition of 
``artificial intelligence-ready'' under 
clause (i)(I), the Director may, in 
consultation with the Chief Data 
Officer of the Federal department or 
agency that is responsible for such 
biological dataset, determine that such 
dataset is not artificial intelligence-
ready.
(iii) Requirements for definition of 
qualified federally funded research.--In 
facilitating the establishment of the 
definition of the term ``qualified federally 
funded research'' under clause (i)(IV), the 
Director shall take such actions as may be 
necessary to include in such definition certain 
conditions that, if satisfied, will result in 
certain federally funded research being 
qualified federally funded research. Such 
conditions shall include the following:
(I) The amount of Federal funding 
awarded to a recipient.
(II) The capability of the 
recipient to generate a biological 
dataset that is artificial 
intelligence-ready.
(III) The expertise of the 
recipient in generating a biological 
dataset that is artificial 
intelligence-ready.
(IV) The size of the biological 
dataset generated by the recipient.
(V) Any other condition the 
Director considers appropriate.
(B) Standards.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
Director shall facilitate the establishment of 
standards relating to making biological datasets 
artificial intelligence-ready, in accordance with the 
definition of artificial intelligence-ready under 
subparagraph (A)(i)(I).
(C) Resources and frameworks.--In carrying out 
paragraph (1), the Director shall facilitate the 
establishment of data management resources and 
cybersecurity frameworks for the following:
(i) Federal departments and agencies that 
provide either full or partial Federal funding 
for research that generates biological 
datasets.
(ii) Federally funded researchers who are 
collecting, cleaning, curating, or generating 
biological datasets to make the datasets 
artificial intelligence-ready.
(D) Additional requirements.--The Director shall 
take such actions as may be necessary to ensure the 
definitions, standards, resources, and frameworks 
referred to in paragraph (1)--
(i) are not overly burdensome on recipients 
of funding for qualified federally funded 
research, such that the act of generating 
biological datasets that are artificial 
intelligence-ready requires resources and 
expertise beyond those available to the 
recipients; and
(ii) are tested and evaluated in accordance 
with subsection (c).
(3) Annual updates.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the establishment of the definitions, standards, resources, 
and frameworks under paragraph (1), and annually thereafter, 
the Director shall review such definitions, standards, 
resources, and frameworks and, as the Director considers 
appropriate, shall update such definitions, standards, 
resources, and frameworks in accordance with this section.
(4) Consultation.--To facilitate the establishment of the 
definitions, standards, resources, and frameworks under 
paragraph (1), and any update under paragraph (3), the Director 
shall carry out the following:
(A) Assess any existing standard related to 
biotechnology or artificial intelligence, including any 
standards inventoried pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(A), 
and, if appropriate, facilitate the incorporation of 
any such standards in the establishment of the 
standards referred to in paragraph (2)(B).
(B) Consult with the following:
(i) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(ii) The Secretary of Defense.
(iii) The Secretary of Energy.
(iv) The Director of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(v) The Director of the National Institutes 
of Health.
(vi) The Administrator of the National 
Science Foundation.
(vii) The head of any other Federal 
department or agency the Director considers 
appropriate.
(C) Seek to consult with the following:
(i) Private sector entities from the 
biotechnology industry.
(ii) Members of academia.
(5) Personnel.--To facilitate the establishment of the 
definitions, standards, resources, and frameworks under 
paragraph (1), and any update under paragraph (3), the Director 
shall hire staff as the Director determines necessary.
(b) Information Gathering.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Director shall inventory the 
following:
(A) Existing biotechnology standards utilized by 
recipients of Federal funding for biotechnology 
research to generate biological datasets.
(B) Existing biological datasets generated by 
recipients of Federal funding for biotechnology 
research.
(2) Publication.--Not later than 1 year after the Director 
completes the inventory requirement under paragraph (1), the 
Director shall make any information inventoried under that 
paragraph available to the public through a website of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology.
(c) Test and Evaluation.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Director shall coordinate with the 
Administrator of the National Science Foundation to conduct a test and 
evaluation of the definitions, standards, resources, and frameworks 
referred to in subsection (a)(1) on a sample of biological datasets 
generated as a result of qualified federally funded research to 
determine the following:
(1) Whether such definitions, standards, resources, and 
frameworks are clearly written, easy to follow, and easily 
applicable for the generation of biological datasets that are 
artificial intelligence-ready.
(2) Whether compliance with such definitions, standards, 
resources, and frameworks when generating or curating 
biological datasets results in an undue burden on the 
recipients of such qualified federally funded research, and if 
so, how to modify such definitions, standards, resources, or 
frameworks, as the case may be, so as to reduce such burden.
(d) Advice and Assistance Related to Federal Department or Agency 
Data Standards.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the head of a Federal department or 
agency that provides funding for qualified federally funded 
research and that seeks to utilize a biological dataset of such 
department or agency to train an artificial intelligence model 
may make a request to the Director to provide advice or 
assistance with respect to developing the following:
(A) Data standards for such training.
(B) Any data management plan related to such data 
standards.
(2) Resources.--A head of a Federal department or agency 
that makes a request pursuant to paragraph (1) may enter into 
an agreement with the Director to provide to the Director any 
resources as may be necessary for the Director to provide any 
advice or assistance related to such request.
(3) Oversight mechanisms.--The Director shall establish the 
following:
(A) A regularly updated central repository, made 
available to the public as the Director determines 
appropriate, on which the head of any Federal 
department or agency may publish any data standards, 
and data management plan related to such standards, 
relating to utilizing a biological dataset of such 
department or agency to train an artificial 
intelligence model.
(B) A publicly available database to serve as a 
single point of access, updated as the Director 
determines necessary, on which the head of any Federal 
department or agency may publish artificial 
intelligence-ready biological datasets.
(C) A mechanism available to each Federal 
department or agency to make a request pursuant to 
paragraph (1).
(4) Public input.--The Director may solicit input and 
feedback from the public with respect to any advice or 
assistance related to a request made pursuant to paragraph (1).
(e) Public Input and Feedback; Consultation.--In carrying out 
subsection (a)(1), the Director shall carry out the following:
(1) Solicit input and feedback from the public regarding 
the definitions, standards, resources, and frameworks referred 
to in such subsection.
(2) Consult the heads of Federal departments and agencies 
that provide funding for qualified federally funded research to 
ensure such departments and agencies are able to develop data 
standards, and any data management plan associated with such 
data standards, related to utilizing a biological dataset of 
such department or agency to train an artificial intelligence 
model, including the following:
(A) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(B) The Secretary of Defense.
(C) The Secretary of Energy.
(D) The Director of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration.
(E) The Director of the National Institutes of 
Health.
(F) The Administrator of the National Science 
Foundation.
(G) The head of any other Federal department or 
agency as determined by the Director.
(f) Advisory Group.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish an 
advisory group to carry out the following:
(A) Provide recommendations relating to the 
definitions, standards, resources, and frameworks 
referred to in subsection (a)(1).
(B) Review and provide feedback with respect to any 
advice or assistance related to a request made pursuant 
to subsection (d)(1).
(C) Provide recommendations to academic journals 
for guidelines relating to artificial intelligence-
ready biological datasets.
(D) Solicit recommendations from the academic 
community regarding implementation of the definitions, 
standards, resources, and frameworks.
(E) Provide any other guidance the Director may 
request.
(2) Membership.--
(A) In general.--The advisory group established 
under paragraph (1) shall be composed of not fewer than 
12 members. The Director shall carry out the following:
(i) Appoint representatives of Federal 
departments or agencies that award funds to 
recipients to carry out qualified federally 
funded research.
(ii) Seek to appoint representatives of 
academia, private sector entities, and academic 
publishers.
(B) Terms.--
(i) In general.--Each member shall serve 
for a term of 2 years.
(ii) Renewal.--Subject to the discretion of 
the Director, the term of each member may be 
renewed for an additional 2-year term.
(3) Chairperson.--
(A) Appointment.--The Chairperson of the advisory 
group shall be designated by the Director from among 
the members.
(B) Term.--The term of the Chairperson shall be 1 
year.
(C) Renewal.--Subject to the discretion of the 
Director, the term of a Chairperson may be renewed for 
an additional 1-year term.
(4) Reports.--
(A) Interim report.--Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the advisory 
group shall submit to the Director an interim report 
that contains advice and guidance with respect to the 
matters described in paragraph (1).
(B) Subsequent reports.--If the advisory group or 
the Director determines appropriate, the advisory group 
shall submit to the Director subsequent reports 
relating to the matters described in paragraph (1).
(g) Federal Acquisition Regulation Revisions.--The Federal 
Acquisition Regulatory Council shall revise the Federal Acquisition 
Regulation as necessary to implement the definitions, standards, 
resources, and frameworks established under subsection (a)(1).
(h) Annual Report.--
(1) Interim report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to 
Congress and the Comptroller General of the United States an 
interim report that includes information relating to the 
progress of facilitating the establishment of the definitions, 
standards, resources, and frameworks under subsection (a)(1) 
and any advice or assistance related to a request made pursuant 
to subsection (d)(1).
(2) Subsequent reports.--Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
Director shall submit to Congress and the Comptroller General 
of the United States a report that includes information 
relating to the following:
(A) The establishment, implementation, and, if 
applicable, revision, of the definitions, standards, 
resources, and frameworks referred to in subsection 
(a)(1).
(B) Any advice or assistance related to a request 
made pursuant to subsection (d)(1).
(3) Additional requirement for first subsequent report.--
With respect to the first subsequent report under paragraph 
(2), the Director shall include a summary of the testing and 
evaluation under subsection (c) that includes information 
relating to the following:
(A) The findings of the testing and evaluation.
(B) The manner by which the Director addressed any 
concern identified as a result of the testing and 
evaluation.
(C) An assessment of any burden on recipients of 
funding for qualified federally funded research 
regarding ensuring that biological datasets are 
artificial intelligence-ready.
(D) A cost-benefit analysis of the value of 
ensuring that biological datasets are artificial 
intelligence-ready in relation to any such burden.
(i) Government Accountability Office Report.--Not later than 5 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the 
impact of the definitions, standards, resources, and frameworks 
referred to in subsection (a)(1), including the following:
(1) An assessment of the effectiveness of the definitions, 
standards, resources, and frameworks in ensuring each 
biological dataset generated by a recipient of funding for 
qualified federally funded research is artificial intelligent-
ready.
(2) An assessment of whether the implementation of the 
definitions, standards, resources, and frameworks as the case 
may be, has resulted in an undue burden on any recipient of 
Federal funding.
(3) Any recommendations with respect to the implementation 
of the definitions, standards, resources, and frameworks.
(j) Sunset.--This section shall terminate on the date that is 10 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(k) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Biological data.--The term ``biological data'' means 
information that is measured, collected, or aggregated for 
analysis, including associated descriptors, derived from the 
structure, function, or process of a biological system.
(2) Biological dataset.--The term ``biological dataset'' 
means a discreet collection of biological data.
(3) Biological data repository.--The term ``biological data 
repository'' means any centralized data storage capacity meant 
for managing or storing biological data.
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