Congressman McCormick Chairs Critical Hearing on Biotechnology Amid Race with China for Global Leadership

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Rich McCormick (GA-07), Chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, chaired a hearing examining America’s biotechnology leadership, federal oversight of high-risk biological research, and the growing biotechnology race with the Chinese Communist Party.

The Subcommittee heard testimony from Dr. Anemone Franz, Visiting Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute; Mr. Joshua Hodges, Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution; and Dr. Gigi Gronvall, Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

“American biotechnology has long been one of our nation’s greatest strategic assets, but that leadership is no longer guaranteed,” said Congressman McCormick. “The Chinese Communist Party has made biotechnology a national priority, just as it has with semiconductors and artificial intelligence. We cannot afford to be complacent. We must protect American research, strengthen oversight, and ensure the breakthroughs funded by American taxpayers translate into American jobs, American manufacturing, and American strength.”

The hearing examined federal oversight of high-risk biological research, including gain-of-function research, as well as the growing convergence of artificial intelligence and biotechnology. McCormick emphasized both the enormous potential of AI to accelerate drug discovery, protein design, and biomanufacturing and the need to prevent American research, data, and technology from being exploited by adversaries.

McCormick has also introduced two bills to strengthen American biotechnology leadership. The Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act (H.R. 8398) would better align federal biotechnology research investments with the skilled workforce needed to develop and scale those innovations here at home. The Biotechnology Diplomacy Leadership Act (H.R. 9755) would strengthen U.S. leadership abroad by coordinating American biotechnology policy and confronting threats from adversaries seeking access to American data, technology, and capabilities.

Click HERE to watch McCormick’s opening remarks.