Congress is back next week and biotechnology competitiveness and biosecurity remain a priority. At the same time, several Administration nominations are being considered in the Senate next week while FDA continues efforts to stabilize leadership. Here’s what we’re watching this week:
House Select Committee on China Sets Hearing on Import Controls and Supply Chain Threats: The House Select Committee on China announced a September 16 hearing examining how to counter Chinese industrial policy and supply-chain vulnerabilities. While the hearing is broader than biotechnology, it comes as Congress is increasingly treating biotech, pharmaceuticals, and their supply chains as strategic industries and considering a growing set of tools to address U.S. dependence on China. We’ll be watching closely for how biotechnology fits into that broader economic-security conversation.
House Science Committee to Examine Biotechnology Innovation and Biosecurity: Also on September 16, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee will hold a hearing titled “Balancing Biotechnology Innovation and Biosecurity: Securing U.S. Leadership in a Global Race.” We expect plenty of conversation on how U.S. can protect against emerging biological and research-security risks while maintaining its leadership in biotechnology.
House SST Chair & Oversight Subcommittee Chair Inquire on Federal Biotechnology Research and Security: The committee might have provided an early preview this week when Chairman Brian Babin and Subcommittee Chairman Rich McCormick sent letters to NIH, NSF, and DOE to identify gaps in current biotechnology safeguards, progress implementing recommendations from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, and any additional authorities or resources they need.
FDA Moves to Stabilize Leadership: HHS announced permanent leaders for several major FDA offices this week, including Michael Davis as Director of CDER and Karim Mikhail as Director of CBER. The agency also created its first Deputy Commissioner for Technology and Artificial Intelligence, naming Jared Seehafer to the role. After a prolonged period of leadership turnover at FDA, greater continuity at CDER and CBER is welcome.
Senate to Consider Several HHS Nominations: The Senate will begin considering Chris Klomp’s nomination to serve as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services next week, with hearings before the Finance Committee on September 15 and the HELP Committee on September 16. If confirmed, he would assume the department’s second-highest position at a consequential moment for federal health policy, with major decisions underway across FDA, NIH, CMS, drug pricing, and biomedical research. The HELP Committee will also consider Nicole Saphier’s nomination to serve as Surgeon General and Timothy Westlake’s nomination to be Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.
