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Congressman Baird introduces DOE Biological Innovation Act

Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Jim Baird

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Fourth District Indiana Congressman Jim Baird (R-Greencastle) has introduced the Biological Innovation Opportunities (BIO) Act to help advance biological and environmental research and further develop capabilities and infrastructure at the Department of Energy.

“The BIO Act is a small step in creating a larger and long-term strategy for investment in critical research and infrastructure for the United States,” Baird said. “It’s imperative our country remain a global leader when it comes to innovation and new technology and prevent the Chinese Communist Party from surpassing our capabilities.”

“Strengthening and expanding our biological and environmental research program will help produce cleaner energy, reduce waste, and – importantly – create jobs in rural areas,” Science, Space & Technology Ranking Member Congressman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) said. “It’s a great example of how fundamental research can produce wide-ranging benefits. I appreciate Rep. Baird’s work to improve our bioenergy and environmental research and I’m proud to cosponsor this bill with him.”

The bill is an initiative to authorize the Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Research Centers. More specifically, the bill would authorize basic research in plant and microbial systems biology, bio imaging and analysis, and genomics to inform the production of fuels, chemicals from sustainable biomass resources, and to facilitate the translation of basic research results to industry.

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  • I wonder who could be against this?

    -- Posted by beg on Tue, May 4, 2021, at 11:34 PM

  • DPR no doubt.

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Wed, May 5, 2021, at 11:56 AM
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    LOL - no doubt, indeed.

    Perhaps one of y'all could show me where this expenditure is provided for in the Constitution?

    Despite all his flowery words and flag-waving, this bill is a sweetheart bill for the bio-energy folks & farmers... y'know, the geniuses that brought us government-subsidized, practically useless, ETHANOL.

    Why not simply allow private industry to fund this stuff like it is supposed be?

    B/c you can't buy votes that way...that's why.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Wed, May 5, 2021, at 9:58 PM

  • "Perhaps one of y'all could show me where this expenditure is provided for in the Constitution?"

    Sure, I will oblige. It's found in Atricle I, section 8. I seem to recall we have been here before, though.

    -- Posted by Koios on Thu, May 6, 2021, at 11:40 AM

  • Koios, I was about to post the same thing - the general welfare clause. "Unconstitutional" - Dreadpirateroberts keeps using that word. I'm not sure it means what he thinks it means.

    He uses it to give himself a smug sense of superiority when all it actually does is reveal him to be a silly little man.

    -- Posted by boilermaker93 on Thu, May 6, 2021, at 11:53 AM
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    *grabs another bag of carrots, munches to the rhythm of dramatic anarcho-libertarian sturm und drang*

    -- Posted by Bunny1E on Thu, May 6, 2021, at 2:33 PM

  • DPR, stick to your guns! Just because there are more of them than us, doesn't make them right; however, those who feel everyone and the government owes them an existence comprise the vast majority in America, so good luck convincing modern America that socialism is not the answer, especially when the expenditure can be termed, even loosely, as for the general welfare.

    And who could disagree with Congressman Baird's introduction? Well, I certainly would because his flowery words are nothing more than deflective cover for a new mandate for the increased use of ethanol. Any dolt could understand that, and the battle between big oil and the farming industry continues, or will continue at the tax payer's expense.

    Do I like and appreciate Jim Baird's lobbying for the agriculture industry? Heck yes, agriculture donations not withstanding, but I'm also a strong supporter of the market and private industry.

    I also enjoyed the insertion that we must have this act to protect us from the Communist Chinese Party! That inspired a chuckle. I'm not an expert in industrial espionage, but I can only imagine that as soon as any product or research produced by American taxpayer R&D dollars is released to an American business or industrial entity, it will find itself on the Chinese internet.

    -- Posted by Prince of Stardust Hills on Thu, May 6, 2021, at 3:18 PM

  • Actually had a FBI presentation at an Executive Committee Meeting I sit on in our industry. It is amazing the amount of IP that China steals or attempts to steal

    -- Posted by beg on Thu, May 6, 2021, at 5:08 PM
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    You know how your parents thought every gaming system ever was a "Nintendo"? Now replace parent with DPR and Nintendo with "Unconstitutional". Same energy....

    -- Posted by RSOTS on Thu, May 6, 2021, at 9:45 PM

  • Playbook

    -- Posted by beg on Thu, May 6, 2021, at 10:58 PM

  • Classic beg

    -- Posted by BJCP96 on Fri, May 7, 2021, at 7:55 AM
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