Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act
This bill prohibits the award of federal research grants to institutions of higher education or research institutes that conduct gain-of-function research. Gain-of-function research refers to any research that (1) may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in an organism; or (2) involves the enhancement of potential pandemic pathogens or related risky research with potentially dangerous pathogens.
To provide a moratorium on all Federal research grants provided to any 
  institution of higher education or other research institute that is 
                 conducting gain-of-function research.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Viral Gain of Function Research 
Moratorium Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANTS FOR INSTITUTIONS AND 
              RESEARCH INSTITUTES CONDUCTING GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH.

    (a) Definition of Gain-of-Function Research.--In this section, the 
term ``gain-of-function research'' means any research that--
            (1) may be reasonably anticipated to confer attributes to 
        influenza, MERS, or SARS viruses such that the virus would have 
        enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in any organism; or
            (2) involves the enhancement of potential pandemic 
        pathogens or related risky research with potentially dangerous 
        pathogens.
    (b) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
research grants supported by Federal funds may be awarded to 
institutions of higher education, or other research institutes, that 
are conducting gain-of-function research.
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Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act
A bill to provide a moratorium on all Federal research grants provided to any institution of higher education or other research institute that is conducting gain-of-function research.
Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act
Sen. Marshall, Roger