Congress Prioritizes Future Biotech Workforce and Talent Development

New legislation harnesses America’s greatest strength to build a biotechnology workforce prepared to lead into the future.

20 May 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC –

Today, NSCEB Commissioner Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17-D) and Representative Rich McCormick (GA-7-R) introduced two bills that, combined with recent legislation from Representative Sarah McBride (DE-D), will strengthen America’s biotech talent pipelines and prepare the U.S. government to more effectively engage with biotechnology into the future.

The Federal Biotechnology Workforce Assessment Act and the Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act join with the Biotechnology for All High School Students Act to help develop a workforce that is prepared to continue America’s legacy of leadership in biotechnology. (See below for legislative details.)

In its April 2025 Action Plan and report, the NSCEB argued that building the biotech workforce of future is critical to harnessing the power and potential of biotechnology. As it reshapes supply chains, reshores manufacturing, secures America’s food, energy, and materials production, and transforms defense and national security, we must have a deep well of biotechnology talent to sustain this critical industry.

“We are living in a revolutionary time in biotechnology,” said NSECB Commissioner Angela Belcher. “America’s biotechnology future depends on the workforce we prepare today. These opportunities will give curious learners and private sector and federal workers the right tools and resources to make the most of opportunities and will allow our workforce to more actively engage and contribute to economic resilience, technology leadership, and U.S. national security. Together, these three bills will help to fulfill the biotechnology workforce needs and propel America’s innovation engine in the future”

“The biotechnology workforce is now a national security asset,” said NSCEB Commissioner Paul Arcangeli. “These bills are an important step toward making sure the United States can stay ahead in scientific innovation, AI-enabled biotech discovery, and advanced biomanufacturing. By assessing federal workforce needs and aligning research priorities with real industry demand, Congress is helping make sure we have the talent pipeline needed to turn breakthrough science into strategic advantage. That pipeline has to be broad to include life scientists, but also industrial technicians, mechanics, pipefitters, and other skilled workers who will power the biotechnology economy of the future.” 

“Expanding the federal biotechnology workforce is vital to ensuring the United States remains the global leader in scientific discovery, invention, and entrepreneurship,” said NSCEB Commissioner Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17). “I’m proud to introduce my Federal Biotechnology Workforce Assessment Act alongside Rep. McCormick’s Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act to provide a bipartisan approach to identify workforce gaps, strengthen federal coordination, and ensure our biotechnology industry can continue to lead in scientific innovation.”

“America leads the world in biotechnology, and we need to keep it that way,” said Representative Rich McCormick (GA-7). “Right now, we’re making historic investments in biotech research and biomanufacturing. Still, we’re leaving talent on the table because we don’t have a coordinated strategy to build the workforce that industry actually needs. This legislation fixes that. By aligning federal research priorities with real workforce development and getting a clear-eyed assessment of our gaps, we can ensure America stays ahead of our adversaries and continues to lead the world in the industries of tomorrow. This is exactly the kind of commonsense, results-driven governing that Americans deserve.”

“Biotechnology is helping shape the future of health care, agriculture, and our economy, but we must do more to prepare the next generation to lead in this critical field,” said Representative Sarah McBride (DE). “The bipartisan Biotechnology for All High School Students Act would help close that gap by expanding access to biotechnology education and equipping students with the skills to continue driving innovation in Delaware and across the country. I’m grateful to Rep. McCormick for his partnership and look forward to advancing this legislation together.”

Legislative Details

The Federal Biotechnology Workforce Assessment Act would:

Direct the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to coordinate with relevant federal agency heads to formally define the biotechnology workforce and assess both current and future federal workforce needs.
Learn more here.

The Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act would:

Direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support biotechnology workforce pathways and alignment with Federal research investments.
Learn more here.

The Biotechnology for All High School Students Act would:

- Authorize the NSF to award competitive, merit-based awards to organizations to train teachers in biotech concepts, develop and distribute instructional materials, acquire lab equipment, and develop transferable, stackable biotechnology credentials for students.
- Learn more here.

About NSCEB: The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a time-limited, high-impact legislative branch advisory entity whose purpose is to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies for U.S. national security and to prepare the United States for the bioindustrial revolution. The Commission published a comprehensive report in April 2025, including recommendations for action by Congress and the federal government. The bipartisan Commission is composed of Congressionally-appointed Commissioners with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as experts from industry, academia, and government. For more information about the Commission and to view the report, visit: biotech.senate.gov.

Contacts:

NSCEB: press@biotech.senate.gov