Bipartisan Bill Aims to Catalog Nation's Biological Wealth

Senators Young and Padilla, along with Reps. Bice and Khanna, introduce legislation to create genomic datasets for scientific and commercial advancement.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:24pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and reds featuring geometric shapes, concentric circles, and organic botanical forms, conceptually illustrating the complex natural systems that a new bipartisan bill seeks to document and leverage.A sweeping visual representation of the vast biological diversity that lawmakers aim to catalog and harness for scientific and commercial advancement.Franklin Today

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced the America's Living Library Act, which would task the U.S. Geological Survey with collecting, cataloging, and sequencing the genomic information of animals, plants, fungi, and microbes found on public lands across the United States. The goal is to create a comprehensive biological dataset to support research and development in fields like medicine, agriculture, and national security.

Why it matters

The bill's supporters argue that harnessing the nation's natural biological resources will help the U.S. better compete with countries like China in the race for technological advancements. The data collected could lead to breakthroughs in areas ranging from new medicines and agricultural products to emerging defense capabilities.

The details

The 20-page bill requires the Interior Department to oversee the genomic data collection project through the U.S. Geological Survey. The Department of Agriculture and Smithsonian Institution will also collaborate on collecting and storing biological samples. The completed public database will include 'AI-ready datasets' that can be leveraged for further research and innovation.

  • The bill was introduced in April 2026.
  • The data collection project would begin immediately after the bill's passage.

The players

Sen. Todd Young

A Republican senator from Indiana who authored the America's Living Library Act.

Sen. Alex Padilla

A Democratic senator from California who co-authored the bill with Young.

Rep. Stephanie Bice

A Republican representative from Oklahoma who co-authored the bill.

Rep. Ro Khanna

A Democratic representative from California who co-authored the bill.

National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB)

The commission established in 2022 that the bill's authors are all members of.

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What they’re saying

“We have enormous potential to not only ensure that these ecosystems remain beautiful and pristine and great places to visit but also of utility to entrepreneurs and the consumers of new food products, new materials, new medicines.”

— Sen. Todd Young

What’s next

The bill's authors hope it can be incorporated into a larger national security-focused legislative package, such as the National Defense Authorization Act.

The takeaway

This bipartisan effort aims to harness the United States' vast biological resources to drive scientific and commercial innovation, with the ultimate goal of boosting American competitiveness on the global stage.