America’s Living Library Act
The America’s Living Library Act would create a 10-year pilot program within the Department of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Geological Survey, to collect, catalog, sequence, and preserve genomic data from species found in selected units of the National Park System. The program would begin with five park units selected within 180 days of enactment, expand to 20 additional units within two years, and use objective criteria such as biological diversity, feasibility, research value, public engagement, and geographic/ecological representation.
The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate with the National Park Service, USDA, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, NIH’s National Center for Biotechnology Information, and other agencies to build a publicly available genomic database, establish long-term sample storage, and develop standardized sequencing and data-processing protocols. It also requires consultation with Indian Tribes, an implementation plan within 180 days, a preliminary report after three years, and a final report when the program ends. The bill authorizes appropriations for sequencing, storage, and data infrastructure across fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
The bill would add a new federal conservation and genomics program focused on biodiversity sampling in national parks, while also creating new administrative duties for Interior and partner agencies. It would not directly amend existing environmental statutes, but it expressly requires compliance with permitting and consultation requirements under the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Lacey Act, and related federal rules. It also establishes data, cybersecurity, biosafety, and foreign-entity restrictions, and authorizes federal funding for sequencing, storage, and database operations.
No committee transcript or vote record is available, so there is no documented floor or committee sentiment to assess. Based on the bill text, the measure appears generally pro-research and pro-conservation, with emphasis on scientific collaboration, public data access, and long-term preservation of biological samples. The inclusion of funding authorizations and interagency coordination suggests an intent to build institutional support rather than impose a regulatory burden on the public.
The main potential points of contention are likely to be privacy, biosafety, cost, and access control. The bill allows public release of genomic data but withholds personally identifiable information and sensitive collection locations, which may raise questions about transparency versus protection of species and sites. It also requires enhanced safeguards for pathogens or microbial material, prohibits export or foreign storage of physical samples, and limits expedited access for AI-related uses to U.S.-organized entities not controlled by foreign entities of concern. Funding levels, the use of biotechnology company in-kind contributions, and the possibility of expanding the program beyond national parks to other federal lands could also draw scrutiny.