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HR 6297 111th Congress House

International Biosecurity Act of 2010

Official title: To improve the international strategy of the United States for monitoring, reducing, and responding to biological risks, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 29, 2010 Introduced by: Sherman, Brad Democratic · California See on congress.gov
International Affairs Advanced technology and technological innovationsAdvisory bodiesArms control and nonproliferationCongressional oversight
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Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationEmergency communications systemsForeign aid and international reliefGeneticsHazardous wastes and toxic substancesHealth information and medical recordsHigher educationInfectious and parasitic diseasesInternational law and treatiesInternational organizations and cooperationLaw enforcement administration and fundingResearch administration and fundingResearch and developmentStudent aid and college costsTechnology assessment
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 29, 2010
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Sep 29, 2010
Introduced in House
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 Latest action September 29, 2010

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

International Biosecurity Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of State to establish the International Biosecurity Initiative which shall: (1) pursue efforts to establish international standards for pathogen and laboratory safety; (2) pursue efforts to ensure a strong global legal regime for biosecurity; (3) pursue strategies to strengthen the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction; (4) engage in cooperative efforts to improve national, regional, and multinational surveillance and response capabilities with respect to infectious disease outbreaks; (5) support international mechanisms that enhance biosecurity policy coordination; (6) facilitate the alignment of foreign assistance for biosecurity with the public health needs of recipient countries; (7) engage in multilateral and bilateral discussions of biodefense programs and control of sensitive biotechnologies to ensure that they are limited to peaceful purposes; and (8) develop an assessment of the potential security threats and societal and ethical impacts posed by emerging and future biotechnology developments.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) convene an International Biosecurity Task Force of experts to serve as a nongovernmental consultative body for the International Biosecurity Initiative; (2) establish the Nonproliferation and Counterterrorism Fellowship Program to provide eligible students and recent graduates educational fellowships for obtaining a deeper understanding of federal efforts to counter terrorist activities and to promote nonproliferation; (3) submit to Congress an assessment of the limits and capabilities of technologies that could be used for investigating biological incidents and allegations of illegal biological weapons activities; (4) submit to Congress an assessment of the global legal regime for biosecurity; and (5) report to Congress following any incident in which a foreign country fails to share information about the outbreak of a previously unknown infectious disease or about an outbreak for which the country is otherwise required to share information.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6297: International Biosecurity Act of 2010. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-6297/
MLA
"H.R. 6297: International Biosecurity Act of 2010." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-6297/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6297, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-6297/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6297: International Biosecurity Act of 2010](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-6297/)
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