Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989
Public Law 101-298 · S. 993 · 101st Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on May 22, 1990 · Crime and Law Enforcement
Sponsor: Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Cosponsors (15): Sen. David Pryor, Sen. Mark Hatfield,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989 - Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to implement the Biological Weapons Convention and to protect the United States from biological terrorism.
Amends the Federal criminal code to impose criminal penalties upon anyone who knowingly develops, produces, stockpiles, transfers, acquires, retains, or possesses any biological agent, toxin, or delivery system for use as a weapon or assists a foreign state or any organization to do so. Provides for extraterritorial Federal jurisdiction over an offense committed by or against a U.S. national.
Authorizes the Attorney General to request the issuance of a warrant authorizing the seizure of any such agent, toxin, or delivery system that exists by reason of conduct prohibited under this Act or that is of a type or in a quantity that has no apparent justification for prohylactic, protective, or other peaceful purposes. Authorizes the seizure and destruction of such an agent, toxin, or delivery system upon probable cause without a warrant in exigent circumstances. Establishes as an affirmative defense against forfeiture that such agent, toxin, or delivery system is for a peaceful purpose and is of a type or quantity reasonable for that purpose.
Authorizes the United States to obtain an injunction against conduct prohibited by this Act.
Authorizes the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications related to biological weapons offenses under specified conditions.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.
- May 22, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-298.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- May 10, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- May 8, 1990FloorFloor · A similar measure H.R. 237 was laid on the table without objection.
- FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Kastenmeier asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
- FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
- Nov 21, 1989FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- Nov 16, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Judiciary Committee
- Jul 26, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Senate Judiciary Committee
- May 16, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.