Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
Introduced
Summary
Align federal biotechnology research investments with workforce development. This bill would have the Director of the National Science Foundation build a national biotech workforce framework and coordinate agencies, industry, and schools to grow training, skills, and career pathways in biotech.
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- Students and early career workers would get clearer education and career pathways with multiple entry and exit points, plus more internships, apprenticeships, cooperative education, and hands-on training tied to credentials and degrees.
- Colleges, including community colleges and minority-serving institutions, and private employers would get support for formal partnerships and model frameworks that align training to industry needs in areas like biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, genomics and proteomics, and regulatory science.
- The Director must track workforce gaps and barriers, measure program outcomes, and report findings to Congress not later than two years after enactment and biennially for six years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New biotech workforce training program
If enacted, the bill would direct the National Science Foundation Director to link federal biotech research to job training. The Director would create a biotechnology workforce framework with job categories, roles, and needed skills. The bill would identify high-demand areas like biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, genomics and proteomics, and regulatory science. It would promote internships, apprenticeships, cooperative education, and other hands-on pathways that can lead to credentials and degrees. The Director would support partnerships with community colleges, minority-serving institutions, federal labs, nonprofits, and private firms. The Director would develop metrics on workforce gaps and barriers and report to Congress within two years and then every two years for six years.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
GA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/20/2026
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 6/3/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2026
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
NC • D
Sponsored 8/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov