Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8938
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:08:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act of 2026
Purpose
This legislation directs the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and support activities that connect federal biotechnology research funding with workforce training programs. The goal is to build a skilled biotechnology workforce aligned with national research priorities.
Key Provisions
- Workforce alignment: The NSF Director must identify high-demand biotechnology areas, such as biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, genomics, and regulatory science, and integrate them with federal research efforts in coordination with other agencies.
- Pathways and partnerships: The Director is required to create a workforce framework, promote educational and career pathways with flexible entry and exit points, support internships and apprenticeships, and build collaborations among universities (including community colleges and minority-serving institutions), federal labs, nonprofits, and private companies.
- Industry coordination: The NSF must work with private sector biotechnology firms to align training programs with industry needs and develop model partnership frameworks.
- Evaluation and reporting: The Director must create metrics to measure workforce gaps, entry barriers, and partnership effectiveness; integrate these efforts into existing NSF programs; and submit biennial reports to Congress for six years covering gaps, activities, outcomes, U.S. global competitiveness, and recommendations for better coordination.
- Definitions: The bill defines "biotechnology" as the use of biological systems to develop products and "workforce development activities" as training programs like internships and skills-based learning.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This Act establishes new directives for the NSF without amending prior statutes. It adds specific requirements for biotechnology workforce support and federal-private coordination, expanding NSF's role in aligning research investments with education and training.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The NSF gains new coordination duties with other federal entities, potentially increasing administrative workload while integrating these activities into current programs.
- Citizens: Students and early-career professionals may gain expanded access to biotechnology education, credentials, and hands-on training opportunities.
- International relations: The required assessments of U.S. biotechnology workforce standing against competitors could inform strategies to sustain national leadership in the field.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The National Science Foundation and other federal research agencies.
- Higher education institutions, including community colleges and minority-serving schools.
- Federal laboratories and nonprofit organizations.
- Private biotechnology companies and industry partners.
- Students, researchers, and workers seeking careers in biotechnology fields.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The legislation operates within Congress's authority to direct federal agency activities and does not raise apparent constitutional concerns. It emphasizes public-private collaboration and global competitiveness without mandating new regulations or funding allocations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2026-05-20: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-20 — PDF (6 pages)