REPRESENTATIVES HOULAHAN, BICE ANNOUNCE BIOTECH CAUCUS

Bipartisan House Caucus Will Advance Domestic Bioeconomy and Competitive Posture

: June 26, 2025

REPRESENTATIVES HOULAHAN, BICE ANNOUNCE BIOTECH CAUCUS



Washington, D.C....Today Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) announced the formation of the BIOTech Caucus. The Caucus’ mission is to advance bipartisan policy solutions to keep the United States at the forefront of global biotechnology leadership, to engage and learn from sector leaders, and to build awareness and bioliteracy among Members of Congress. Joining Co-Chairs Houlahan and Bice on the BIOTech Caucus are Vice-Chairs Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) and Pete Sessions (R-TX). 


The Caucus recognizes the strategic economic and national security imperatives of federal policy investments in emerging biotechnology. The Caucus’ founding comes after the release of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB)’s comprehensive report to Congress in April of this year. The NSCEB report showed that China is surging ahead in key areas of emerging biotechnology, and Congress must act now to ensure the United States regains and retains its competitive edge. Failure to respond urgently to this and other national vulnerabilities risks the United States falling dangerously, and potentially irrecoverably, behind. Ceding biotechnology leadership will also cripple the robust industry job growth in America. On a national scale, the bioscience industry had a $2.9 trillion impact on the economy in 2021, supporting 2.1 million jobs. 


The BIOTech Caucus will collaborate to advance, support and champion legislation to bolster the domestic bioeconomy, with three primary areas of focus: 

1.     Ensuring domestic bio-security 

2.     Driving bio-innovation 

3.     Unlocking bio-opportunity, in particular job growth, across the country 


“I believe strongly that the United States must lead the world, with its democratic values, in shaping the future of emerging biotechnology that will fundamentally change our lives across health care, agriculture, manufacturing, and more,” said Representative Houlahan. “I’m thrilled to be working again with Representative Bice and our vice-chairs to tackle a major national issue like we’ve done with paid family leave, and I am committed to working across the aisle to see our biotechnology recommendations come to fruition.” 


“Serving as a commissioner on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology has heighted my awareness of the capabilities and threats from our near-peer adversaries,” said Representative Bice. “The BIOTech Caucus will work to ensure that America remains a leader in biotechnology. We must champion policies that unleash innovation and grow this critical sector.” 


“Investments in biotechnology will pave America’s path toward economic and scientific leadership in the 21st-century economy. The BIOTech Caucus will be critical to fostering innovation, biosecurity, and success in industries of the future," said Representative Ro Khanna. 


 “America’s leadership in biotechnology is critical to our national security, economic strength and public health. The BIOTech Caucus will ensure that Congress remains informed, engaged, and proactive in supporting innovation, advancing responsible policy, and maintaining our global edge in this vital sector,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis.   


 “There are a lot of bad ideas about biotech in Washington right now. Congress must promote good ones: expand funding for basic research; protect intellectual property; set high and clear standards; lower co-pays; and take out the middlemen,” said Representative Jake Auchincloss. 


Congressman Sessions said, “I am looking forward working to fostering bipartisan collaboration on the BIOTech Caucus to support cutting-edge research and strengthen America’s competitive edge on the global stage. It is our job in Congress to create an environment where the biotechnology sector can thrive, advancing life-saving breakthroughs, generating high-quality jobs, and fueling economic growth. By embracing pro-innovation policies and supporting the entrepreneurial spirit that defines American capitalism, we can secure our future and reinforce the United States as the world leader in innovation." 


“Emerging biotechnology is at an inflection point, and the creation of the BIOTech Caucus is a vital and welcome step towards making this impactful technology a national priority,” said NSCEB Vice Chair Michelle Rozo. “I applaud the co-chairs for their thoughtful, bipartisan leadership and look forward to collaborating with them as we work together to implement the NSCEB’s recommendations and strengthen our national and economic security.” 


Kelly Seagraves, Vice President of National Security and International Affairs at BIO said, “Biotechnology means hope and health for people and patients around the world, but it also means jobs, economic growth, and national security for Americans. The bipartisan BIOTech Caucus will play a pivotal role in creating the policy and regulatory environment needed to leverage our scientific ingenuity and innovative spirit to advance U.S. leadership in biotechnology. We look forward to working closely with the BIOTech Caucus and its members to address these vital issues." 

 


“EBRC applauds the Chairs of the Congressional BIOTech Caucus for their leadership in launching this important bipartisan effort. Biotechnology holds immense potential to strengthen national security, drive innovation in all sectors, and create economic opportunity across America,” said India Hook-Barnard, Chief Executive Officer, Engineering Biology Research Consortium. “The recent NSCEB report has underscored the urgency of sustained congressional action to ensure U.S. leadership in emerging biotechnology, and we believe the BIOTech Caucus will play a critical role in advancing that goal. EBRC looks forward to working towards supporting this mission alongside our peer organizations. 


“Today's launch marks an important milestone in American efforts to lead the world in biomanufacturing,” said Brooke Coleman, Executive Director of the newly formed American Alliance for Biomanufacturing. “U.S. biomanufacturers are delivering a new generation of bio-based products spanning industries as diverse as energy, defense, agriculture, chemicals, ingredients, sweeteners, materials, fabrics, and nutrition, but we need smart policy to stay ahead of the competition. We look forward to working with the BIOTech Caucus to turbo-charge resilience and growth across America's bioeconomy." 


Below is the BIOTech Caucus Framework: 


Mission: 

The House bipartisan Congressional BIOTech Caucus is founded and chaired by Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Vice Chairs Ro Khanna (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) and Pete Sessions (R-TX). The Caucus’ mission is to advance bipartisan policy solutions to keep the United States at the forefront of global biotechnology leadership, to engage and learn from sector leaders, and to build awareness and bioliteracy among Members of Congress. 



The Caucus recognizes the strategic economic and national security imperatives of federal policy investments in emerging biotechnology. The Caucus’ founding comes after the release of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology’s report to Congress in April 2025. The report urged comprehensive congressional action in the next three years, absent which the U.S. risks falling irrecoverably behind to China. The Caucus will call attention to the Commission’s findings and continue the work of highlighting the power and potential of the U.S. bioeconomy. 


Goals: 

  1. Advance, support, and champion legislation to bolster U.S. biotechnology leadership and strengthen the domestic bioeconomy
  2. Convene regular meetings to strategize efforts and learn from key officials and industry leaders 
  3. Hold public events in coordination with experts and stakeholders with the goal of building bioliteracy across the U.S. Capitol and calling attention to the urgency of action 


BIOTech Caucus Focus Areas: 


Biosecurity: Federal investments in emerging biotechnology are critical for U.S. national security. We cannot afford to fall behind as Beijing makes strides towards controlling global bio-supply chains and enhancing Chinese military capabilities. Congress must ensure the U.S. leads the world in the development of biotechnologies with our democratic values, supports U.S. military defense applications in biotechnology, and makes advancements to keep Americans safe from bio-threats. 


Innovation: The U.S. government can play a key role in incentivizing bio-entrepreneurship and leveraging our leading capital markets. However, too often, the complicated federal bureaucracy can stand in the way of progress. Congress must advance smart policies to elevate bio-innovation among agencies, streamline regulations, and foster a supportive business ecosystem. 


Opportunity: There is no question that domestic biomanufacturing will lead to job creation across the country. Biotechnology also stands to solve some of our greatest global challenges, like cancer, food insecurity, environmental protection, and more. Congress has a responsibility to help develop and support the bio-workforce of the future, invest across sectors, and encourage a competitive, robust, and growing domestic bioeconomy. 


Read full Commission Report here. 

--end--

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, engineer, entrepreneur, educator, and nonprofit leader. She is serving her fourth consecutive term representing the people of Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. Houlahan is the first female veteran to be named as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Personnel Subcommittee and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Houlahan is also chair of the Economic Growth and Cost of Living Task Force on the New Democrat Coalition. 

Athens Bioscience Names New Leadership Team to Drive Commercial Growth

June 18, 2026
June 18, 2026 - Athens Bioscience, Inc., a US manufacturer of native human and animal proteins, today announced a change in leadership. Benjamin Newland, the company’s Executive Chairman, has become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, effective today. John Mitchell, who has led the company as CEO for five years, will continue as special advisor. Karson Durie rejoins Athens as Chief Operating Officer, effective June 8, 2026. Dee Athwal, a biotechnology executive and antibody engineer, will join the board of directors on July 1, 2026. Newland becomes chief executive four decades after his father, Dr. Hillary Newland, co-founded the company that became Athens Bioscience in 1986 at the University of Georgia. Newland has served as Chairman and majority shareholder since March 2024 and is relocating from Spain to Athens, Georgia, to take the role. “For forty years Athens has made native proteins in-house, lot after lot — proteins that researchers and diagnostics labs build their own work on top of,” said Benjamin Newland, Chairman and CEO of Athens Bioscience. “What we want to do now is deepen relationships with our core customers and broaden our distribution.We also intend to develop our custom and contract manufacturing line of business. John was instrumental in building internal systems and processes and now we are ready to scale.” Mitchell led Athens for five years. As special advisor, he will support the transition and continue to advise on customer and commercial matters. “Athens made great proteins long before I showed up. What it needed was a tighter operation behind them – steadier planning, cleaner production, shipments you can count on,” said John Mitchell. “That’s built now. The next thing is getting Athens in front of more of the world and I look forward to supporting Benjamin as he moves forward with that.” Durie returns to Athens as Chief Operating Officer, having most recently served as Director of Product Development at Danimer Scientific. She previously served as Lab Director at Athens. She holds a PhD in polymer chemistry and an MBA in finance from the University of Georgia and is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a registered patent agent. “I know this facility and the people in it,” said Karson Durie, Chief Operating Officer of Athens Bioscience. “Returning as COO is a chance to scale what already works — consistent lots, tight quality control, reliable supply — as demand grows across diagnostics and cell culture.” Athwal will join the board on July 1. He trained as a biophysicist and established the antibody engineering group at Celltech, where he is named as an inventor on foundational antibody-engineering patents. He has founded or co-founded five biotechnology companies and held C-level roles across the UK, US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, including building Complement Therapeutics as CEO and leading the biologics strategy at Kelix Bio through its acquisition by Mubadala. His work in antibodies, immune proteins, and complement biology maps directly to Athens’s largest product lines. About Athens Bioscience  Athens Bioscience, Inc. (formerly Athens Research & Technology) manufactures native human and animal proteins for research, cell culture media, and in vitro diagnostics. Founded in 1985 at the University of Georgia, the company purifies more than 170 native proteins in-house at its ISO 9001:2015-certified facility in Athens, Georgia. Athens proteins have been cited in more than 2,500 peer-reviewed publications and reach customers across the US, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Athens does not resell or broker. It manufactures. Media Contact Christie DeMasi Athens Bioscience, Inc. christie@athensbioscience.com +1.706.546.0207

Showcase Your Startup at the 2026 Georgia Life Sciences Summit

June 17, 2026
As part of the Georgia Life Sciences Summit (August 25–26), applications are now open for the Startup Showcase , sponsored by Johnson & Johnson , highlighting early-stage innovation across MedTech and Therapeutics . The Showcase will feature some of Georgia’s most innovative life science startups, giving emerging companies the opportunity to present groundbreaking technologies, products, and solutions to a distinguished audience of industry leaders, investors, researchers, and partners. Selected startups will present during the August 26 luncheon program and participate in a live investor Q&A session with John Gutierrez (Ascenta Capital), Emma Heckenberg, Ph.D. (Solas BioVentures), Patrick Jordan (NovaQuest Capital Management), and Emily Dinu (Numinous Capital) Members of the Johnson & Johnson external innovation team will also be onsite for the program and select companies will be scheduled for a 1:1 meeting to discuss strategic alignment and potential collaboration opportunities. If you or companies in your network are building in MedTech or Therapeutics, this is a strong opportunity to gain visibility, receive feedback on commercialization and growth strategy, and connect with key stakeholders. All applicants receive a complimentary Summit registration, and one selected company will also be invited to participate in the NewYorkBIO / New York Stock Exchange Life Sciences Showcase on December 10. If this is relevant to your work, it would be a strong opportunity to consider applying. If not, it may be worth sharing with companies in your network who are building in this space.

Georgia Life Sciences Educator Connection | June Newsletter

June 15, 2026
Workforce & Education Impact: Building Georgia's Future  Life Sciences Workforce - One Teacher at a Time June 16, 2026 - As Georgia Life Sciences concludes the 2025-2026 cycle of the Biotech Teacher Training Initiative (BTTI), the results reinforce the critical role educators play in building the state's future life sciences workforce. Since July of 2025, BTTI engaged 98 educators representing 40 schools across 23 school systems, reaching an estimated 5,375 students through hands-on biotechnology instruction, career-connected learning, and industry-relevant classroom experiences. The Georgia Life Sciences Equipment Depot further expanded the program's impact by supporting 238 teachers with access to laboratory equipment and materials that make authentic life sciences learning possible. Georgia Life Sciences is also pleased to report that funding for BTTI was maintained in the Georgia House version of the FY 2027 budget approved earlier this year. The upcoming 2026-2027 program cycle will mark an important evolution for BTTI. Building on feedback from industry partners and workforce trends across the life sciences sector, Georgia Life Sciences will expand the program's scope to better reflect the skills and competencies employers increasingly need. In addition to foundational biotechnology concepts, future programming will be organized around key industry domains, including Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC), Research & Development (R&D), MedTech, Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Advanced Manufacturing. This expanded approach will provide educators with greater insight into the breadth of career opportunities available across Georgia's life sciences ecosystem while helping students develop awareness of the technologies and disciplines shaping the industry's future. The impact extends far beyond individual workshops, creating lasting connections between Georgia classrooms and the state's growing life sciences ecosystem while helping build the talent pipeline that will power Georgia's future innovation economy. "Before BTTI, I was hesitant to do biotech labs because they seemed too complex and expensive," shared Josephine Jeganathan of Stockbridge High School. "The program showed me how simplified it can be and provided the equipment and materials needed to successfully implement the Central Dogma Lab with all my classes." Teachers are also seeing increased student engagement through hands-on learning experiences. Tonie Curry of North Clayton High School used a chromatography lab to connect environmental science concepts to water pollution and sustainability. "Students were highly interested in seeing how substances separated and made strong connections to water pollution and environmental sustainability," Curry noted. "The hands-on nature of the lab encouraged curiosity and deeper understanding." For many educators, one of the most valuable aspects of the program is the connection between classroom learning and real-world careers. As Marshai Waiters of Marietta Middle School reflected: "Exposure is key. There are so many avenues to work in STEM, and they are all accessible with opportunity and knowledge. The insights gained from industry speakers will inform my teaching and create new opportunities for student exposure." When teachers are trained, equipped, and connected to industry, students gain more than a science lesson—they gain a window into Georgia's life sciences future.
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