Cotton Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Biological Smuggling

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hannah McCarthy (202) 465-5601
June 10, 2026

Cotton Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Biological Smuggling

Washington, DC — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation to crack down on biological smuggling. The Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act would impose tough, unavoidable mandatory minimum sentences on individuals who illegally import biological agents.

This follows the Department of Justice’s charging two foreign-national researchers at the National Institute of Health (NIH) with conspiracy to smuggle monkeypox virus into the United States.

“Illegally smuggling dangerous viruses into our country threatens the health and safety of all Americans. My bill would increase the punishment for anyone who commits this heinous crime,” said Senator Cotton.

Text of the bill can be found here.

The Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act would:

• Impose a 20-year mandatory minimum for the smuggling (or attempted smuggling) of any biological agent or toxin (as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 178, which includes monkeypox virus and other select agents) — whether committed by a lone actor or as part of a conspiracy.
• Impose a 20-year mandatory minimum for conspiracy to smuggle such agents.
• Impose a 5-year mandatory minimum for making false statements to federal agents in connection with the smuggling, importation, declaration, or permitting of biological agents.

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