Is Rand Paul’s “Risky Research Review Act” Enough?

In July, the Daily Caller reported that Sen. Rand Paul’s “Risky Research Review Act”  would be introduced to the Senate.  If passed into law, the RRRA “would provide oversight for gain of function research funding by establishing an independent board responsible for reviewing and approving federal funding for high-risk life sciences research.”

The bill hinges on the creation of a “Life Sciences Research Security Board.” The Board would be an independent entity of nine members “within the Executive Branch.” The members would provide oversight over federally funded research in the life sciences to protect “public health, safety, or national security,” including “gain-of-function research” such as that which was likely involved in the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May, the National Institutes for Health finally admitted — after years of denial —  that U.S. taxpa…