Web of Biological Data Act of 2026

This bill requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a centralized data resource called the "Web of Biological Data" to facilitate biological research using advanced computational methods like artificial intelligence. It also establishes a research and development program for data science related to biological data.

Sec. 2, Web of Biological Data: The Secretary must award a grant to a National Laboratory through a competitive process to establish the Web within 180 days. The Web will serve as a single entry point for researchers to access biological data, include quality metrics and metadata, and have tiered cybersecurity safeguards. The Director of the selected National Laboratory may enter data sharing agreements, cost-sharing agreements, and partnerships with other entities.

Sec. 2, Implementation Plan: Within one year, the Director must submit an implementation plan to Congress describing how the Web will be implemented, including plans for acquiring federally funded data, digitizing biological samples, initial projects, cost-sharing, cybersecurity, and partnerships.

Sec. 2, Phase I: Within two years, the Director must test an initial version of the Web focusing on specific biological data subtypes, with a single point-of-entry interface, initial frameworks for application programming interfaces, and cybersecurity safeguards. The Director must also acquire data, develop cost-sharing agreements, work with stakeholders, select initial research projects, and submit a report.

Sec. 2, Phase II: Within five years, the Director must expand the Web to be accessible to U.S. researchers, accommodate different biological data types, and adapt to new data. The expanded version must have a fully realized interface, interoperability frameworks, an optimized online interface, human-centered design, standard data quality for AI training, restrictions on data sharing with adversarial countries, and appropriate cybersecurity.

Sec. 2, Independent Assessment of Cybersecurity: The Director must seek a contract for biannual independent cybersecurity assessments of the Web.

Sec. 2, Advisory Board: Within 180 days of selecting the National Laboratory, the Secretary must establish an advisory board with 11 members from industry, academia, National Laboratories, and Federal agencies, chaired by the Director, to oversee implementation.

Sec. 2, Collaboration: The Director must collaborate with Federal agencies on biosafety and biosecurity, the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Library of Medicine, a qualified nongovernmental group, and other relevant agencies.

Sec. 2, Report: The Director must submit annual reports to Congress on progress, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and plans for maintenance and expansion.

Sec. 2, Authorization of Appropriations: $30,000,000 is authorized for the first three years for the research program, $310,000,000 for the first three years for Phase I, and $80,000,000 for each of the subsequent two years after Phase I completion.

Sec. 2, Rule of Construction: Nothing in this section supersedes privacy, informed consent, human-subject protections, data use limitations, or protections against unauthorized disclosure.