S-5079-119
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Sponsored by David McCormick (R-PA)
What it does
This bill would reauthorize the Genome to Phenome Initiative (AG2PI), a federal agricultural research program, by extending its authorization deadline from 2023 to 2031. It does so by amending a single date in the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990. The program funds research connecting plant and animal genetic data (genome) to observable traits (phenome) to improve agricultural productivity and resilience.
Who benefits
Agricultural researchers and universities that receive federal grants through the program. Farmers and agricultural producers who may benefit from improved crop varieties and livestock breeds developed through genomics research. Biotechnology and agricultural science companies that build on publicly funded research. Rural communities where land-grant universities and agricultural research stations are located. Consumers who may benefit indirectly from more productive or resilient food crops over the long term.
Who is hurt
Competing research programs that may receive less funding if appropriations are finite and this program continues to draw resources. Private agricultural biotech firms that compete with publicly funded research outputs. Taxpayers who bear the cost of continued federal spending on the program. Researchers in other scientific fields who compete for the same discretionary research funding pool.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that the Genome to Phenome Initiative addresses a critical gap in U.S. agricultural competitiveness by translating genetic discoveries into practical crop and livestock improvements. They contend that a lapse in authorization since 2023 has created uncertainty for multi-year research projects and that extending the program through 2031 provides the long-term stability needed for complex genomics research to yield results. They also argue that publicly funded agricultural genomics research has historically produced broad-based benefits, including drought-resistant crops and disease-resistant livestock, that private markets alone would underprovide.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that reauthorizing the program without a comprehensive review of its outcomes since its original authorization fails to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively. They contend that the private agricultural biotechnology sector has grown substantially and is capable of funding genomics research without federal subsidy, making continued government involvement potentially duplicative. They also argue that a simple date extension, without updated performance metrics or funding accountability provisions, is an insufficient basis for committing federal resources through 2031.