S. 738: Dangerous Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act
A Senate bill (S.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | Senate bill (S.) |
| Originating chamber | Senate |
| Introduced | 2025-02-26 |
| Sponsor | Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS] |
| Policy area | Health |
| Cosponsors | 1 |
| Latest action | 2025-02-26 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. |
| Last updated | 2026-02-04 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in Senate, 2025-02-26):
Dangerous Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act
This bill prohibits institutions of higher education or other research institutes that are conducting gain-of-function research from receiving federal research grants. Gain-of-function research means research that (1) involves the genetic alteration of specified viruses, agents, and toxins (e.g., coronavirus) to change or enhance their functions, such as their ability to cause or spread disease; or (2) may reasonably be anticipated to give new traits to such organisms that enhance such functions or otherwise threaten public health or national security.
Cosponsors (1)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Marsha Blackburn | R TN (original cosponsor) 2025-02-26 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for S. 738 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
Frequently asked questions
What is S. 738?
S. 738 is a Senate bill (S.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the Senate. Official title: Dangerous Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for S. 738 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).