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H.R. 5770House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

National Security Biotechnology Workforce Training Act

Sponsored by Chrissy HoulahanRep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
Introduced October 17, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 8:06 PM UTC

The National Security Biotechnology Workforce Training Act directs the Department of Defense to set up a comprehensive training program on biotechnology and related emerging technologies for military personnel, civilian employees, and contractors. The program aims to ensure these individuals understand the science, applications, ethical considerations, and security implications of biotech, as well as how it intersects with AI, quantum computing, and other advanced fields. Training is required annually, includes interactive learning with external experts, and will be regularly updated. The program will be evaluated, reported to Congress, and will end five years after it begins.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Defense must create a biotechnology training program within one year for service members, DoD civilian staff, and contractors whose jobs involve creating, using, or responding to biotech and related emerging technologies.
  • Training must cover basic biotech science, AI and quantum computing links, defense and civilian applications, government procurement, ethical and legal issues, risk mitigation, and future technology trends.
  • All identified personnel must complete the training each year, with interactive sessions that include experts from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors and access through institutions like the National Defense University.
  • The program must be updated annually to reflect new advances, and the Secretary must track participation, gather feedback, and report a implementation plan to the Armed Services committees within six months of enactment.
  • The training requirements will expire five years after the program is first established.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

October 17, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 17, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

October 17, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 17, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5770

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 17, 2025

Ms. Houlahan (for herself and Mr. Bacon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To establish biotechnology workforce training programs for Department of Defense personnel, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Security Biotechnology Workforce Training Act.

2.

Department of Defense biotechnology workforce training

(a)

Requirement

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish and carry out a training program—

(1)

for members of the covered Armed Forces, civilian employees of the Department of Defense, and contractors of such Department whose duties the Secretary determines include—

(A)

creating or deploying novel biotechnologies;

(B)

analyzing, preparing for, or responding to biological threats; or

(C)

planning, research and development, engineering, or testing and evaluation of systems (including quality control and assurance, procurement and contracting, logistics, and cost estimating) regarding biotechnology; and

(2)

on biotechnology and other relevant critical and emerging technologies.

(b)

Consultation

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall consult with leadership and workforce training managers in the Department to develop and implement such training program and identify the individuals described in subsection (a) based on—

(A)

the needs and priorities of the Department; and

(B)

the relevance of the training to the individuals’ positions.

(2)

Material

The material covered in the training programs shall be customized by Department leadership to align with specific needs and mission requirements.

(3)

Skills

The Secretary shall define the essential skills for biotechnology personnel to better understand what Federal personnel should undergo training and how to customize training for groups.

(c)

Requirements

(1)

In general

The training program established under this section shall, at a minimum, include information on—

(A)

the fundamental science underlying biotechnology, artificial intelligence and other relevant critical and emerging technologies;

(B)

concepts relating to the technological features of biotechnology systems;

(C)

applications of biotechnology in defense, health, agriculture, energy, environment, and other relevant areas;

(D)

the ways in which artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and other technologies are leveraged to advance biotechnology;

(E)

mechanisms by which the Federal Government supports, funds, purchases, and deploys biotechnology and its applications;

(F)

ways in which the Federal Government can benefit from biotechnology;

(G)

ethical, social, and legal aspects of biotechnology including ways of incorporating a wide range of stakeholder perspectives throughout research and innovation cycles;

(H)

ways to mitigate the risks described in previous subparagraphs, including efforts to create and identify biotechnologies that are reliable, safe, and trustworthy; and

(I)

future trends in biotechnology, including intersections with artificial intelligence, quantum computing, autonomous systems, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and other relevant technologies, as well as trends for economic and national security, and innovation.

(2)

Participation

Any individual described under subsection (b)(1) shall complete training under this section annually.

(3)

Interactive

The Secretary shall ensure interactive learning with scholars and experts from private, public and nonprofit sectors is included under the training programs. The Secretary shall provide access to courses through institutions of professional military education, such as the National Defense University.

(4)

Updates

The training programs established under this section shall be updated each year to review and cover advances in biotechnology and its convergence with other critical and emerging technologies.

(5)

Continuing education

The Secretary shall update the training programs established under this section to provide continuing technology education for individuals described in subsection (a) and include requirements for refresher training on the latest advances in biotechnology science, laboratory work, equipment and software.

(d)

Performance measurements

The Secretary shall establish mechanisms to measure participation in training programs required under this section, and to receive and consider feedback from program participants to improve training.

(e)

Report

Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report that includes a plan to establish and implement the training programs required under this section.

(f)

Sunset

This section and the training programs required to be carried out by this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after such programs are established under subsection (a).

(g)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term artificial intelligence has the meaning given that term in section 5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (division E of Public Law 116–283).

(2)

The term covered Armed Force means the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.