Congressman Pete Sessions Introduces the Independence Investment Fund Act to Strengthen U.S. Leadership in Biotechnology and Emerging Technologies

(Office of Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX 17)) Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) has introduced the bipartisan Independence Investment Fund Act, legislation establishing a dedicated investment fund within the Department of the Treasury to support U.S. based companies developing critical and emerging technologies, including biotechnology. He is joined in this effort by Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan as Co-lead, with Congressman Ro Khanna, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney, and Congresswoman Stephanie Bice serving as original cosponsors.

The bill creates a federal investment mechanism designed to bridge the funding “valley of death,” where promising early-stage technologies often fail to reach commercialization due to limited access to capital. By providing strategic seed to mid-stage equity investments, the fund aims to de-risk innovation, counter adversarial foreign investment, strengthen national and economic security, and accelerate the development of technologies central to America’s future competitiveness.

“Our national security depends on our ability to innovate faster and more effectively than our adversaries,” said Congressman Sessions. “The Independence Investment Fund Act strengthens America’s position by directing strategic investments into technologies that are essential for our prosperity and long-term security. This bill ensures that America—not China—sets the pace for the next generation of biotechnology and emerging technologies.”

“Too many promising biotech and other emerging tech companies fall into the ‘valley of death,’ when critical early capital is hardest to secure. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party is investing billions, and the U.S. is falling behind. By creating a government-backed, privately run investment fund, our legislation gives small and mid-sized innovators, especially in biotechnology, the strategic capital they need to bring breakthrough technologies to market. I’m proud to partner with Rep. Sessions on this effort and grateful for our joint leadership of the BIOTech Caucus as we work to strengthen America’s technological edge,” said Congresswoman Houlahan.

“Federal investments in biotechnology and the fostering of stronger public-private partnerships will secure America its place as an innovative leader in the 21st-century economy. I’m proud to cosponsor Rep. Pete Sessions Independence Investment Act and establishing a non-partisan Independence Investment Fund to strengthen U.S. national and economic security,” said Rep. Ro Khanna.

“Strong public–private partnerships keep American science and technology at the forefront of global innovation while creating good-paying jobs here at home. I’m proud to cosponsor the Independence Investment Fund Act, which will help ensure the United States leads in the critical and emerging biotechnologies needed to meet 21st-century challenges,” said Congresswoman April McClain Delaney.

“This legislation helps strengthen and grow the United States biotechnology sector, ensuring we can remain a global leader. Without additional investment mechanisms, emerging technologies that are crucial to national security risk being outpaced by adversarial foreign nations, such as China. We must enhance our biotechnology sector and protect our national and economic security,” said Congresswoman Bice.

The Independence Investment Fund Act is supported by the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, ARCH Venture Partners, Ocugen Pharma, the American Alliance for Biomanufacturing, and the Science and Technology Action Committee. Their full statements of support are included below.

Statement from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology:
“The U.S. innovates better than anyone in the world, but new technologies important for national security can be too risky or uncertain for private investors,” said NSCEB Vice Chair Michelle Rozo. “In our April 2025 report, the NSCEB identified this as a key area for government action. We are grateful to our congressional partners for introducing legislation to create a strategic investment fund that can make targeted investments in promising technologies that incentivize follow-on private capital, all in support of U.S. national security.”

Statement from ARCH Venture Partners:
“ARCH supports efforts to ensure American innovation remains the global benchmark.”

Statement from Ocugen Pharma:
“The massive gap between research and commercial readiness remains a significant barrier for emerging biotechnology companies,” said Dr. Shankar Musunuri, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder of Ocugen. “Existing financing mechanisms do not fully address the development challenges that prevent promising therapies from reaching patients. The Independence Investment Fund Act fills this gap by providing targeted investment support that will strengthen domestic bio innovation and manufacturing and enable companies like ours to progress critical technologies that contribute to national and economic resilience. We encourage all American industry stakeholders to support this legislation in order to maintain our dominance as the global leader in biotech.”

Statement from the American Alliance for Biomanufacturing:
“The Independence Investment Fund Act provides the strategic investment the U.S. needs to stay ahead in biomanufacturing. By closing critical financing gaps, the fund will help ensure that critical biotechnologies break through and scale here at home, supporting high-quality jobs in rural and urban communities alike. This is the kind of forward-looking commitment required to secure American leadership in the bioeconomy.”

Statement from the Science and Technology Action Committee:
“This brilliant bill will empower the U.S. biotechnology sector to translate new discoveries from academia into transformative products that build economic and national security while addressing challenges to health, energy, environment, and food,” said Keith Yamamoto, Co-Chair of the Science and Technology Action Committee.