STOPPING UNREGULATED BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES

On 2026-02-04, Representative Jim Costa (D-CA-21) delivered a floor speech titled "STOPPING UNREGULATED BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, trade policy.

STOPPING UNREGULATED BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 25 (Wednesday, February 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 4, 2026)] [House] [Pages H1985-H1986] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1100 STOPPING UNREGULATED BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES (Mr. Costa of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to a serious and growing public safety and public health concern that I think requires congressional action. It is the operation of illegal and unregulated biological laboratories that we see in communities throughout our country. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting legislation that I have introduced from the House committee recommendations. They are the Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act and the STOP Health Threats Act. Many of us became aware of this issue in the San Joaquin Valley in 2023 when an illegal biolab was discovered operating in my district in Reedley, California. Local officials uncovered a clandestine operation storing biological materials, laboratory equipment, medical waste, and dangerous, dangerous pathogens like malaria, like COVID, like HIV. There were thousands of laboratory mice in unsafe conditions. [[Page H1986]] All of this was inside a warehouse located near residential areas. It was not a licensed facility. It was operating in the shadows without proper licensing or permits. Why? Ostensibly, the reason was to develop medical kits for COVID testing and for pregnancy testing. Clearly, that was not the case. Local authorities initially lacked the clear tools and resources to determine what hazards they were dealing with or how to safely respond. The situation placed local law enforcement officers, code enforcement staff, and nearby residents at serious risk. It required coordination of local, State, and Federal agencies to fully assess the threat and dismantle this operation. It was slow in coming. Now, over the weekend, some of my colleagues have probably noted a national story in Las Vegas, where there was the report of a discovery of a new lab and that materials were under investigation related to the illegal biolab that was created in 2023 in Reedley, California. This does not surprise me. We cannot assume that communities across the country are immune from similar risks. Many jurisdictions simply do not have the expertise or Federal support needed to quickly identify and respond to unauthorized biological operations. That is why I have introduced legislation based upon committee recommendations. This is bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening Federal coordination, improving oversight, and helping close regulatory blind spots that have allowed unauthorized facilities to operate undetected. We hope this will ensure local communities have the access and the resources necessary when a biological threat emerges. Too often, local officials are asking: Who do we call? Who has the authority? Who has the expertise? Our legislation helps answer those questions before another emergency unfolds. Mr. Speaker, first responders should not have to walk into an unknown biological environment without clear Federal support. Parents should not have to worry about hazardous material being stored in facilities next door to schools and residential areas. Communities deserve transparency and safeguards, whether the incident occurs in California, Nevada, or anywhere else in the country. It is important that we protect our constituents from a larger crisis. The legislation would strengthen oversight, coordination, and response mechanisms that can prevent confusion and reduce the risks. I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to review these two pieces of legislation and to become cosponsors. Together, we can ensure that Federal agencies, State authorities, and local communities are better equipped to address these unauthorized biological operations that would prevent threats in their areas. The public demands that we provide preparedness, and preparedness demands action. Let me also thank local officials that acted responsibly when it was first determined they had a problem. They include Code Officer Jesalyn Harper from the city of Reedley, City Manager Nicole Zieba; mayor of the city, Mayor Tuttle, of the city council; and Supervisor Nathan Magsig. All of these individuals worked together with our office to, in fact, act on the situation in Reedley, California. Mr. Speaker, I urge that we act on this legislation so that people around the country can feel safe from any kind of illegal biological labs that may crop up in their communities. Together, we can close these gaps, support the communities, and keep our constituents safe. ____________________