H.R. 8212

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8212 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8212 To require Foreign Service officers to complete certain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics training, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 9, 2026 Mr. Baird introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require Foreign Service officers to complete certain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics training, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Tech Diplomacy Training Act''. SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT TO COMPLETE CERTAIN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS TRAINING. Section 708 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4028) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(f) STEM Training.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of State, acting through the Director of the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center, shall establish and conduct training on-- ``(A) matters related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including-- ``(i) artificial intelligence; ``(ii) next generation communications; ``(iii) technological advancements made in different geographic regions; ``(iv) how such topics affect diplomacy; and ``(v) any other training with respect to such matters that such secretary determines critical to the Foreign Service; ``(B) how the United States may utilize emerging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics matters as a tool of diplomacy; and ``(C) how United States adversaries and national security threats, as identified in the National Security Strategy most recently published by the President on the date on which such training is conducted, utilize technology-- ``(i) to undermine United States diplomacy; and ``(ii) when engaging in diplomacy. ``(2) Condensed training.--The Secretary of State, acting through the Director of the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center, shall establish a condensed training curriculum on the matters described in paragraph (1). ``(3) Required training.-- ``(A) In general.--The training described under paragraph (1) shall be included in the A-100 course attended by each Foreign Service officer. ``(B) Existing officers.--With respect to an officer serving in the Foreign Service on the date of the enactment of the Tech Diplomacy Training Act and who has completed the A-100 course-- ``(i) the training described under paragraph (1) shall be completed not later than 18 months after such date of enactment; or ``(ii) the training described under paragraph (2) shall be completed not later than 270 days after such date of enactment. ``(4) Relation to existing training.--The training required by this subsection shall be in addition to and conducted separate from each other training required to be completed by a Foreign Service officer.''. <all>