119th Congress · introduced in the Senate · Mar 5, 2025

S. 854

Risky Research Review Act

Official title from Congress.gov

Latest action (Sep 17, 2025): Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 164.

Summary

Congressional Research Service summary, version: Introduced in Senate (Mar 5, 2025)

Risky Research Review Act

This bill establishes the Life Sciences Research Security Board to oversee the award of federal funding for high-risk life sciences research. High-risk life sciences research means the study of an organism, virus, or related product that could be misapplied to pose a significant threat to the public or could enhance the transmissibility or virulence of certain high-risk pathogens (e.g., Ebola).

Specifically, the bill establishes the board as an independent agency that must review proposed high-risk life sciences research, determine whether a federal agency may award funding for the research, and determine minimum required controls for funded research. Entities that are seeking federal funding must attest to whether their research is high-risk life sciences research. Agencies must certify the validity of these attestations and submit proposed high-risk life sciences research to the board. Agencies must also notify the board of intended awards for other life sciences research for potential review.

In making its determinations, the board must consider specified factors, including whether the benefits of the research outweigh the risks. The bill prohibits agencies from awarding federal funding for high-risk life sciences research without approval of the board or for life sciences research currently under board review. The board may also review awards that were made before the bill’s enactment.

Entities that fail to properly attest to the nature of their research may lose their eligibility for funding. Additionally, agency employees who fail to comply with the bill's requirements are subject to disciplinary action.

Sponsor

Rand Paul (R-KY)

Cosponsors (1)

1 current

Gary C. Peters (D-MI) · Mar 5, 2025 · original

Recorded votes on this bill

Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.

No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.

Actions

Sep 17, 2025 · Senate
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 164.
Sep 17, 2025 · Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report.
Sep 17, 2025 · Library of Congress
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report.
Jul 30, 2025 · Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Mar 5, 2025 · Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Mar 5, 2025 · Library of Congress
Introduced in Senate

Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.

Subjects

Accounting and auditing · Advisory bodies · Biological and life sciences · Congressional oversight · Employee performance · Federal officials · Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management · Government ethics and transparency, public corruption · Government information and archives · Government studies and investigations · Infectious and parasitic diseases · Public contracts and procurement · Research administration and funding

Lobbying reports citing this bill

LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.

Coverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 24, 2026.

49 citations; showing the 25 most recently posted.

RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY · lobbying firm or registrant: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$70,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 1864 and S. 854: Risky Research Review Act A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to establish the Life Sciences Research Security Board, and for other purposes (ALL).…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$70,000
Spent on own lobbying
…poses. Proposals to protect university IP, including under potential Bayh-Dole "march in" rights, and mitigate nefarious influence from hostile foreign actors. S.854/H.R.1864 - Risky Research Review Act - whole bill, potential impact on bio-medical research, regulatory burden, and efforts to increase oversight and accountab…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN · lobbying firm or registrant: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$150,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ers and agency directives on U-M operations and funded research projects CREATE AI Act of 2025 (H.R. 2385) Deterrent Act (H.R. 1048) Risky Research Review Act (S. 854/H.R. 1864) Investing in National Next-Generation Opportunities for Venture Acceleration and Technological Excellence (INNOVATE) Act (S. 853) SBIR/STTR reauthor…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$50,000
Spent on own lobbying
Risky Research Review Act (H.R. 1864, S. 854); National Biotechnology Initiative Act (H.R. 2756/ S. 1387); EPIC Act (H.R. 2582/ S. 1235); Cloud Labs to Advance Biotechnology Act of 2025 (S. 2676); Homesta…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · lobbying firm or registrant: CORNERSTONE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, INC.
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · amended · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$60,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Artificial Intelligence; Research security; S.854/H.R. 1864 - Risky Research Review Act; H.R. 1048/S.1296 - the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DET…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES · lobbying firm or registrant: ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs
$431,446
Spent on own lobbying
…y. Issue: Educate Congress and the administration about opportunities to strengthen medical research supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH). H.R.1864/S.854 - Risky Research Review Act Issue: Support prevention of unintended consequences from new restrictions on life sciences research. H.R.1863/S.855 - Royalty Tran…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · amended · posted Oct 16, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$410,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ssia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · amended · posted Oct 16, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$410,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ssia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 21, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$90,000
Spent on own lobbying
…poses. Proposals to protect university IP, including under potential Bayh-Dole "march in" rights, and mitigate nefarious influence from hostile foreign actors. S.854/H.R.1864 - Risky Research Review Act - whole bill, potential impact on bio-medical research, regulatory burden, and efforts to increase oversight and accountab…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY · lobbying firm or registrant: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$80,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 1864 and S. 854: Risky Research Review Act A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to establish the Life Sciences Research Security Board, and for other purposes (ALL).…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN · lobbying firm or registrant: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$150,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ers and agency directives on U-M operations and funded research projects CREATE AI Act of 2025 (H.R. 2385) Deterrent Act (H.R. 1048) Risky Research Review Act (S. 854/H.R. 1864) Investing in National Next-Generation Opportunities for Venture Acceleration and Technological Excellence (INNOVATE) Act (S. 853) SBIR/STTR reauthor…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · lobbying firm or registrant: CORNERSTONE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, INC.
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$60,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Monitored and advised on Artificial Intelligence; Monitored S.854/H.R. 1864 - Risky Research Review Act; Monitored H.R. 1048/S.1296 - the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transac…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES · lobbying firm or registrant: ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 17, 2026 · issue area: Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs
$821,438
Spent on own lobbying
…y. Issue: Educate Congress and the administration about opportunities to strengthen medical research supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH). H.R.1864/S.854 - Risky Research Review Act Issue: Support prevention of unintended consequences from new restrictions on life sciences research. H.R.1863/S.855 - Royalty Tran…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 17, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$50,000
Spent on own lobbying
Risky Research Review Act (H.R. 1864, S. 854); National Biotechnology Initiative Act (H.R. 2756/ S. 1387); EPIC Act (H.R. 2582/ S. 1235); Cloud Labs to Advance Biotechnology Act of 2025 (S. 2676);
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 21, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$100,000
Spent on own lobbying
…poses. Proposals to protect university IP, including under potential Bayh-Dole "march in" rights, and mitigate nefarious influence from hostile foreign actors. S.854 - Risky Research Review Act - whole bill, potential impact on bio-medical research, regulatory burden, and efforts to increase oversight and accountability. Pr…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY · lobbying firm or registrant: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$140,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 1864 and S. 854: Risky Research Review Act A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to establish the Life Sciences Research Security Board, and for other purposes (ALL).…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$50,000
Spent on own lobbying
Risky Research Review Act (H.R. 1864, S. 854); National Biotechnology Initiative Act (H.R. 2756/ S. 1387); EPIC Act (H.R. 2582/ S. 1235); Cloud Labs to Advance Biotechnology Act of 2025 (S. 2676);
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN · lobbying firm or registrant: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$190,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ers and agency directives on U-M operations and funded research projects CREATE AI Act of 2025 (H.R. 2385) Deterrent Act (H.R. 1048) Risky Research Review Act (S. 854/H.R. 1864) Investing in National Next-Generation Opportunities for Venture Acceleration and Technological Excellence (INNOVATE) Act (S. 853) SBIR/STTR reauthor…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES · lobbying firm or registrant: ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 16, 2026 · issue area: Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs
$577,720
Spent on own lobbying
…y. Issue: Educate Congress and the administration about opportunities to strengthen medical research supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH). H.R.1864/S.854 - Risky Research Review Act Issue: Support prevention of unintended consequences from new restrictions on life sciences research. H.R.1863/S.855 - Royalty Tran…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · lobbying firm or registrant: CORNERSTONE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, INC.
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 14, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$60,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Monitored and advised on Artificial Intelligence; S.854/H.R. 1864 - Risky Research Review Act; H.R. 1048/S.1296 - the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DET…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · amended · posted Mar 10, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$360,191
Spent on own lobbying
…ssia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · amended · posted Mar 10, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$45,800
Spent on own lobbying
…ssia to head the Office of Special Counsel. Lobbied against the nomination Charles Arrington to serve on the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Lobbied against S. 854, Risky Research Review Act Lobbied in support of S. 572, Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Lobbied in opposition to H.R. 1210, the Protecting Taxpayers Wallet Act…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV · lobbying firm or registrant: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 21, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$70,000
Spent on own lobbying
…poses. Proposals to protect university IP, including under potential Bayh-Dole "march in" rights, and mitigate nefarious influence from hostile foreign actors. S.854 - Risky Research Review Act - whole bill, potential impact on bio-medical research, regulatory burden, and efforts to increase oversight and accountability. Pr…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY · lobbying firm or registrant: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$80,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 1864 and S. 854: Risky Research Review Act A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to establish the Life Sciences Research Security Board, and for other purposes (ALL).…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN · lobbying firm or registrant: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Science/Technology
$150,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ers and agency directives on U-M operations and funded research projects CREATE AI Act of 2025 (H.R. 2385) Deterrent Act (H.R. 1048) Risky Research Review Act (S. 854/H.R. 1864) Investing in National Next-Generation Opportunities for Venture Acceleration and Technological Excellence (INNOVATE) Act (S. 853) SBIR/STTR reauthor…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing