Bill · S. 4991· Senate(119-S-4991)
Homestake AI Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 7/15/2026
- Last activity
- 7/15/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Mike Rounds
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Homestake AI Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Energy to start an initiative to sequence the whole genomes of extremophiles. The program involves collecting and cataloging samples of microbes, fungi, plants, and animals from unique or extreme locations. The Secretary must create a database for this data and a new long-term storage facility capable of surviving catastrophic incidents. The goal is to advance scientific discovery and potentially develop new healthcare treatments. The bill also establishes a foundation for private sector contributions and a working group to coordinate with allied countries.
Yes· 3 of 37
Does this put more money into scientific research?+9
Creates a comprehensive initiative for genome sequencing and scientific discovery.
Does this put more money into medical research?+7
Directly funds a large-scale genomic sequencing initiative and scientific discovery.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+6
Focuses on developing treatments for dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-3
The bill mandates the establishment of a new initiative and a long-term storage facility.
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-2
The bill authorizes 'such sums as are necessary', which increases government spending.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?-2
Open-ended appropriation of necessary funds lacks specific fiscal constraints.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Healthcare Advancement: The initiative aims to support the development of new treatments for diabetes, dementia (including Alzheimer's), and cancers, specifically those affecting children and people with high mortality rates. (Section 2(c)(3)(B)(iv))
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Scientific Discovery: The collection of new genomic data is intended to contribute to general advances in scientific discovery. (Section 2(b)(2))
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Public Data Access: The database created for the collected genomic data will be made accessible to persons within the United States. (Section 2(c)(1)(D))
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Burden: The bill authorizes the appropriation of "such sums as are necessary" to carry out the initiative, which could result in significant government spending. (Section 2(f))
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Retirees+6Good For Seniors+6Good For Children+5Good For Business Owners+4Good For People With Disabilities+4Good For Students+4Good For African Americans+3Good For Asian Americans+3Good For Billionaires+3Good For High Income Households+3Good For High Net Worth Individuals+3Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For L G B T Q Community+3Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Men+3Good For Middle Aged+3Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Native Americans+3Good For Ultra High Net Worth Individuals+3Good For Veterans+3Good For White Americans+3Good For Women+3Good For Young Adults+3Good For Rural Residents+2
- Healthcare
- Increases Research Funding+7Improves Healthcare Access+4Improves Pandemic Preparedness+3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves International Alliances+5Improves Cybersecurity Defense+4Improves Diplomatic Engagement+4
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+9Improves Data Privacy+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4Increases Federal Power+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+2Increases Job Creation+2Reduces Government Spending-3Improves Fiscal Responsibility-2Reduces National Debt-2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+2
- 7/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico