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119-hr-5770119th CongressWALLET

National Security Biotechnology Workforce Training Act

Sponsored By: Representative Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a Department of Defense biotechnology workforce training program to prepare military members, DoD civilian employees, and contractors to work with emerging biotechnologies and their convergence with AI and other critical technologies. The program would need to be operational within one year after enactment and would end five years after establishment.

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  • Service members: Would require annual participation for personnel whose duties involve creating or deploying novel biotechnologies, responding to biological threats, or doing related research, development, engineering, testing, or quality work. The training would cover science fundamentals, applications, ethics, and risk mitigation.
  • DoD civilian employees: Would get customized courses aligned to mission needs and essential biotech skills. Training must include interactive learning with academic and industry experts and access through professional military education institutions like the National Defense University.
  • Contractors: Would be included when their duties touch biotechnology, including procurement, contracting, logistics, quality assurance, and cost estimating. Contractors would also face the annual participation requirement and periodic refresher training.

Not later than six months after enactment the Secretary must submit a plan to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to implement the program, and the Secretary must update the curriculum annually to reflect advances and convergence with technologies such as AI and quantum computing.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Defense biotech training for troops, civilians, contractors

If enacted, the Defense Department would start a biotech workforce training program within one year. Identified service members, civilian employees, and relevant contractors would have to complete the training each year. Courses would cover biotech basics, how AI and other tech apply, government use and ethics, and risk safeguards, with experts and access through schools like the National Defense University. The Secretary would send Congress a startup plan within six months, tailor training to mission needs, update and offer refresher training yearly, and track participation and feedback. The program would end five years after it begins.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

PA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 11/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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