Following RAID in LAS Vegas, Cortez Masto, Banks Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Unauthorized BIO LABS

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced bipartisan legislation to close regulatory loopholes giving way to unauthorized bio labs like the onerecently discoveredin Las Vegas. ThePreventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Actstrengthens federal oversight of highly pathogenic agents and high-containment laboratories to protect Americans from the threat of deadly illnesses.
On January 31st, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigationsraidedan unauthorized bio lab operating out of a Las Vegas home that also served as an Airbnb. Several people fell severely ill after having been exposed to the illegal lab. While the investigation is still ongoing, the lab has potential connections to another lab in California with links to the Chinese Communist Party.
“The idea of Communist China-linked entities running an unauthorized bio lab full of unidentified, potentially dangerous pathogens in a Vegas neighborhood is terrifying,”said Senator Cortez Masto. “This moment should be a wakeup call to federal lawmakers: we need more guardrails in place to protect our communities from the threat of bad actors operating illegal labs.”
“Unauthorized biolabs are a real threat to Americans’ safety. This bill strengthens oversight of high-risk research and helps protect from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party,”said Senator Banks.
To keep Americans safe from the threat of future unauthorized bio labs, thePreventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Actwould:
Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), David Valadao (R-Calif.-22), and Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.-03) have introducedcompanion legislationin the House of Representatives.
The full text of the legislation can be foundhere.
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