A USA Today Report identified 14 Biolabs in Texas. These labs, classified as BSL3 and BSL4, are dealing with the most dangerous types of pathogens and gain-of-function experiments. The report also highlighted several incidents and breaches in security in these types of labs. This report underlines how dangerous gain of function research is, and implores us to do something about it.
Thankfully, Texas State Senator Bob Hall has introduced a bill that would prohibit Texas universities from conducting gain of function research.
This bill, TX SB 1583, rightfully identifies gain of function research as a “biosecurity vulnerability”, and points out that “the COVID-19 pandemic may have been the result of a pathogen leak from a secure lab in which gain-of-function research was being conducted”, something that the Energy Department has also concluded. Continuing this research is a threat to everyone’s safety, and it must be banned immediately in order to prevent future pandemics.
It’s time to end the reckless genetic engineering and weaponizing of pathogenic viruses and organisms!
TAKE ACTION: Send a message to your state senator asking them to support TX SB 1583!
*SAMPLE TEXT TO YOUR STATE SENATORS*
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Dear [State Senator]
I am writing to ask for your support of SB 1583 (https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/SB01583I.htm), a bill to prohibit Texas universities from conducting gain-of-function research on potentially pandemic pathogens in Texas. This bill rightfully identifies gain-of-function research as a “biosecurity vulnerability”, and points out that “the COVID-19 pandemic may have been the result of a pathogen leak from a secure lab in which gain of function research was being conducted”, as the Energy Department has concluded (https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-origin-china-lab-leak-807b7b0a). Continuing this research is a threat to the safety of everyone, and it must be banned immediately in order to prevent future pandemics.
Thank you for reading this message and please consider supporting SB 1583 to Prohibit Gain-of-Function Research in Texas.
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