H.R. 8981 · In committee · Science, Technology, Communications

SCALE Biology Act

What it does

Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to direct the Director to perform research on voluntary, consensus-based technical standards, guidelines, and best practices for engineering biology, biomanufacturing, biotechnology, and biometrology.
Establishes a biometrology laboratory program within NIST to conduct measurement research for engineering biology, biomanufacturing, and biotechnology to enable industrial competitiveness and improve accuracy and interoperability of biological data.
Directs the NIST Director to support basic measurement science research for DNA-to-cellular function conversion, biomolecular component measurement technologies, biological data standards, and biosafety and biosecurity assessment tools.
Requires the NIST Director to convene industry, higher education, nonprofits, and Federal agencies to develop coordinated technical roadmaps for measurement of molecular cellular components and establish partnerships to advance biomanufacturing and biotechnology applications.
Directs the NIST Director to submit an implementation plan to Congress within the first fiscal year after enactment and a report within three years detailing the biometrology laboratory program implementation.

Jul 21, 2026: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Committee: House Science, Space, and Technology