Web of Biological Data Act of 2026

This bill would require the Secretary of Energy, within 180 days, to award a grant through a competitive process to a National Laboratory to build the "Web of Biological Data," a single online entry point for researchers to access biological data, especially federally funded data, for use with methods such as artificial intelligence. The Secretary would also set up a research and development program on generating, storing, and managing biological data. A test version would be due within 2 years and an expanded version open to U.S. researchers within 5 years, with tiered cybersecurity controls and limits on access by adversarial countries and countries that do not share data in return. An 12-member advisory board would oversee the project, outside cybersecurity reviews would be sought, and annual reports would go to Congress. The bill authorizes $30 million and $310 million over the first 3 years and $80 million per year for the following 2 years.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Matt Van Epps Republican sponsor
• 2 cosponsors