New Jersey Assembly Bill AR30

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/24
• Refer: 1/9/24

Caption

Urges U.S. President and Congress to cease funding gain-of-function research.

Impact

If adopted, AR30 would express the legislative intent of the New Jersey General Assembly that federal support for gain-of-function research should be discontinued. This would signify a stance against research methodologies perceived to potentially compromise public safety. Furthermore, it may impact future federal funding allocations and regulatory scrutiny concerning biological research practices, emphasizing accountability in research that could lead to severe health consequences.

Summary

Assembly Resolution No. 30 (AR30) urges the President and Congress of the United States to cease funding for gain-of-function research involving pathogenic organisms and substances. This type of research aims to alter the genetic makeup of organisms to enhance or change specific traits, especially in the context of microorganisms and viruses. The resolution highlights concerns regarding the research’s potential to create more transmissible and virulent pathogens, which could pose significant threats to public health, as exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and its speculative ties to such research practices.

Contention

The resolution points out notable concerns surrounding gain-of-function research that echo past controversies, notably the mutation of the H5N1 virus and the subsequent fears about viral release and weaponization. It raises ethical questions given the potential for such research to lead to unintended consequences, thus advocating for a more cautious approach to funding and conducting biological research that involves risks to human health.

Summary_points

This assembly resolution reflects a growing sentiment among legislators about the imperative to rethink the role and oversight of federal funding in dangerous areas of biological research. It encourages a discussion not only about the immediate health implications but also about broader ethical considerations in scientific research practices.