[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>