H.R. 8930

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8930 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8930

To assess the biotechnology workforce needs of certain Federal 
agencies, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 20, 2026

Mr. Khanna (for himself, Mr. McCormick, and Mr. Sessions) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To assess the biotechnology workforce needs of certain Federal 
agencies, 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 ``Federal Biotechnology Workforce 
Assessment Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform of the House of Representatives.
(2) Appropriate federal agency.--The term ``appropriate 
Federal agency'' means--
(A) the Department of Agriculture;
(B) the Department of Commerce;
(C) the Department of Defense;
(D) the Department of Energy;
(E) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(F) the Department of Homeland Security;
(G) the Department of the Interior;
(H) the Department of State;
(I) the Department of the Treasury;
(J) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(K) the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration;
(L) the National Science Foundation;
(M) the Office of the Director of National 
Intelligence;
(N) the Office of the United States Trade 
Representative; or
(O) such other Federal departments and agencies as 
the Director of the Office of Personnel Management 
considers appropriate.
(3) Biotechnology position.--The term ``biotechnology 
position'' means a position in an appropriate Federal agency 
for which the primary duties are--
(A) directly related to biotechnology or carrying 
out the activities of such appropriate Federal agency 
with respect to biotechnology; or
(B) supporting the positions at such appropriate 
Federal agency for which the primary duties are 
described in subparagraph (A).
(4) Biotechnology workforce.--The term ``biotechnology 
workforce'' means the individuals holding biotechnology 
positions.
(5) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
the Office of Personnel Management.
(6) Public-private talent exchanges.--The term ``public-
private talent exchanges'' means arrangements involving the 
temporary assignment of a Federal employee to a non-Federal 
organization, or the temporary assignment of a non-Federal 
employee to a Federal agency.

SEC. 3. FEDERAL BIOTECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT.

(a) In General.--The Director shall, in coordination with the head 
of each appropriate Federal agency, identify the biotechnology 
workforce of each appropriate Federal agency and conduct an assessment 
of the current and future biotechnology workforce needs of each 
appropriate Federal agency.
(b) Contents.--The assessment required under subsection (a) shall, 
with respect to each appropriate Federal agency--
(1) identify the total number of biotechnology positions 
required in such appropriate Federal agency to support the 
objectives of such appropriate Federal agency in 
biotechnology--
(A) as of the date of enactment of this Act; and
(B) over each of the 5-year and 10-year periods 
beginning on such date;
(2) indicate the number of biotechnology positions 
identified under paragraph (1) that are filled as of the date 
of the assessment;
(3) describe each biotechnology position identified under 
paragraph (1), including--
(A) the role of each such biotechnology position in 
supporting the objectives of such appropriate Federal 
agency in biotechnology; and
(B) the qualifications required for each such 
biotechnology position, including seniority level, 
education, credentials, training, and security 
clearances, including the level of security clearance 
and any required infrastructure with respect to such 
security clearance;
(4) quantify the total number of security clearances needed 
for the biotechnology positions identified under paragraph (1);
(5) indicate the number of security clearances identified 
in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (4) that can be 
obtained with current appropriations;
(6) quantify the additional appropriations, if any, 
required to obtain the security clearances identified in 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (4);
(7) assess whether the classifications and codes used by 
the Office of Personnel Management for biotechnology positions 
in such appropriate Federal agency appropriately tracks and 
categorizes the biotechnology positions that comprise the 
biotechnology workforce of such appropriate Federal agency;
(8) assess the feasibility of developing new occupational 
series or codes by the Office of Personnel Management for 
biotechnology positions;
(9) identify any challenges affecting the ability of such 
appropriate Federal agency to develop the biotechnology 
workforce of such appropriate Federal agency;
(10) propose solutions to the challenges identified under 
paragraph (8);
(11) assess the practicability and effectiveness of using 
current employees of such appropriate Federal agency to help 
meet the biotechnology workforce needs of such appropriate 
Federal agency with additional training, including the nature 
and scope of the training required;
(12) assess the practicability and effectiveness of 
detailing current employees of such appropriate Federal agency 
to and from other Federal agencies to meet biotechnology 
workforce needs of such appropriate Federal agency and such 
other Federal agencies, and whether additional training may be 
required, including the nature and scope of any such required 
training;
(13) identify mechanisms to enable such appropriate Federal 
agency to access outside expertise on biotechnology, including 
mechanisms to assemble a pool of outside experts who have been 
prequalified (including by obtaining any necessary security 
clearances) to assist such appropriate Federal agency on 
matters relating to biotechnology as needed on a temporary or 
intermittent basis; and
(14) identify mechanisms to enable such appropriate Federal 
agency to develop the biotechnology workforce of such 
appropriate Federal agency through the use of public-private 
talent exchanges.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report on the findings assessments completed under 
subsection (a), including the information described in subsection (b).
<all>