Peters Bipartisan Legislation to Protect American Genetic Data from Foreign Adversaries Passes Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) that would help prevent foreign adversaries from stealing sensitive American genetic data and personal health information has advanced in the Senate. The Prohibiting Foreign Access to American Genetic Information Act of 2024 would ban all biotechnology companies that are found to be owned or controlled by a foreign adversary’s government, such as the Chinese Communist Party, and whose business practices threaten national security, from receiving U.S. taxpayer dollars through federal contracts, grants and loans. A fast-track ban would be applied to the BGI Group (BGI), MGI, Complete Genomics, WuXi AppTec, as well as their subsidiaries, given the serious national security risk they pose due to their significant ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The Senate legislation was also cosponsored by Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), James Lankford (R-OK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Mark Warner (D-VA). The House companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Representatives Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. The bill was approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Peters serves as chair. It now moves to the full Senate for consideration. 

“The threats posed by biotech companies controlled by foreign adversaries continue to grow. It’s important that when Americans undergo typical medical care, such as getting their blood drawn or other tests, they are confident their DNA will not end up in the wrong hands.” said Senator Peters. “This bill is a critical step to ensuring that Americans’ personal health and genetic information cannot be used by foreign adversaries to undermine our national security.” 

Biotechnology is a rapidly expanding field with many beneficial applications, including promoting human health, improving agricultural production, and spurring industrial innovation. U.S. academic institutions and companies have accelerated investments in biotechnology to advance American science and maintain America’s global economic edge in this highly competitive and complex field. However, biological data, such as DNA sequences, can be exploited for military purposes, used to invade privacy, and violate human rights. The U.S. intelligence community has cited the Chinese Communist Party’s concerted efforts to acquire human genetic and related data through biotechnology companies, such as the BGI Group, as a serious threat to U.S. national security. Other adversarial governments also recognize the strategic value of biotechnology to gain military and economic advantage. The U.S. has taken some steps to mitigate these threats, including by adding BGI subsidiaries to the U.S. Department of Commerce Entity List – which identifies foreign entities that may pose a security threat to the United States. However, the Chinese government and other adversaries often seek ways to get around these restrictions, and a more comprehensive strategic approach to addressing these threats is needed.    

According to reporting from Reuters, if the personal health information and genetic data of Americans, such as blood samples, DNA data, and individual medical history, get into the hands of adversarial foreign governments, it could pave the way for numerous security risks, including “genetically enhanced soldiers, or engineered pathogens to target the U.S. population or food supply.” According to the Washington Post, if companies who allow foreign governments to access this information are allowed to operate in the United States unchecked, those adversarial nations stand “to gain significant economic and strategic leverage against” the United States.   

In addition to quickly banning the biotechnology companies with the most concerning business practices and ties to adversarial governments, the bipartisan legislation also establishes criteria to identify other companies of concern based on risks they may pose to U.S. national security. It also requires an annual review to ensure that new companies or existing companies that try to evade the ban through corporate restructuring can be readily identified as a potential threat. The bill also creates a redress process for biotechnology companies who are identified by the annual review process as a company of concern, allowing them the chance to appeal their designation before it is final. The bill includes provisions to help keep American pharmaceutical supply chains stable and allow current contracts to be completed before the ban applies, giving time for companies to figure out alternatives. The bill would ensure that U.S. government employees—including uniformed servicemembers— would still be able to access health care or related services when stationed overseas through granted waivers. 

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