Senator Cotton proposes mandatory prison for biological smuggling after monkeypox concerns

Senator Tom Cotton introduced legislation mandating prison time for biological smuggling, following NIH researchers' alleged attempt to bring monkeypox into the U.S. The Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act proposes a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence for smuggling or attempting to smuggle biological agents, and five years for false statements to federal agents. This bill aims to close a loophole where current penalties carry a maximum of five years with no mandatory minimum, addressing concerns raised by recent alleged incidents.