H.R. 8981: SCALE Biology Act

119th Congress · introduced 2026-05-21 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

SCALE Biology Act

Plain summary

Standards and Calibration for American Leadership in Engineering Biology Act or the SCALE Biology Act This bill establishes a biometrology laboratory program within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and expands NIST’s role in related research and support activities. Biometrology applies the science of measurement to the study of living organisms. Biometrology is used in many disciplines, including biomanufacturing, engineering biology, and biotechnology. Current law requires NIST to support biometrology research and related activities. The bill directs NIST to establish a biometrology laboratory program to enable innovation, improve biological data, and support the safe and responsible development and application of biological technologies. The bill expands NIST’s existing biometrology-related activities to include establishing common terminology and definitions related to engineering biology, biomanufacturing, biotechnology, and the bioeconomy; supporting external research that advances biometrology and related disciplines; and identifying areas where technical standards and other governance mechanisms are needed. In carrying out these activities, NIST must coordinate with other federal agencies and specified federal programs as appropriate. The bill also directs NIST to support the development of specialized engineering biology facilities (i.e., foundries) in partnership with industry and other specified stakeholders. (Engineering biology involves the synthetic programming of cellular systems. NIST currently operates a Living Measurement Systems Foundry, which supports biometrology and engineering biology research and testing.) The bill also explicitly authorizes NIST to conduct research to support the development of voluntary, consensus-based technical standards, best practices, and other resources for engineering biology, biomanufacturing, biotechnology, and biometrology.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

SCALE Biology Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), James C. Moylan (R-GU), Eugene Simon Vindman (D-VA), Deborah K. Ross (D-NC)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6] reported raising $12.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-119hr8981.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr>

Record fed-us-cong119-hr8981 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-04 by psicol fed-bills