Reps. McBride, McCormick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Biotechnology Education

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) and Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, introduced the bipartisan Biotechnology for All High School Students Act. The legislation aims to increase access to hands-on biotechnology education, helping to strengthen the future of health care, agriculture, the environment, and other critical industries. This is the seventh bill that Rep. McBride has introduced this Congress, all of which have been bipartisan. Full text of the bill can be found here.

"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 Rep. McBride. "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."

Biotechnology is the applied science of harnessing living organisms to advance scientific discovery in areas such as health care, food production, energy and the environment, and manufacturing. As a leading hub for biotech innovation, Delaware is home to several key companies conducting cutting-edge research in biotechnology and bioscience and thousands of jobs in the life sciences.

The Biotechnology for All High School Students Act would establish the National Biotechnology Education Consortium, bringing together the federal government, state and local partners, and biotechnology stakeholders to provide recommendations on how best to expand biotechnology education in high schools in Delaware and across the country. Priority would be given to schools with limited access to biotechnology resources.

"America's leadership in biotechnology starts in the classroom. As competitors like China rapidly invest in biotech, we cannot afford to fall behind. This bill expands access and ensures our students can be part of America's innovation economy. By investing in hands-on learning and expanding access to cutting-edge resources, we are building the workforce that will drive innovation and keep the United States competitive on the global stage," said Rep. McCormick.

Specifically, the bill would authorize the National Science Foundation, in consultation with the Department of Education and the Consortium, to award competitive grants to eligible entities to support biotechnology education and ensure teachers and students have the resources they need. These efforts would include professional development and lab-based training for teachers; development and distribution of curriculum design and instructional materials; the acquisition of laboratory equipment; partnerships with institutions of higher education, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations; and the development of transferable, stackable biotechnology credentials for students.

This legislation is supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including the University of Delaware, the Delaware BioScience Association, the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), the Afterschool Alliance, iGEM, and BioBuilder.

"By expanding access to biotechnology education at the secondary school level, this legislation helps open doors for students from all backgrounds to pursue meaningful careers in science and technology," said Fabrice Veron, interim vice president for research, scholarship and innovation at the University of Delaware. "Early, hands-on learning opportunities are essential for building confidence and curiosity and for creating pathways into college and the modern STEM workforce in high-growth fields that are central to Delaware's innovation economy and to U.S. leadership in research, health, and advanced manufacturing," said Fabrice Veron, University of Delaware Interim Vice President of Research, Scholarship and Innovation.

"The Biotechnology for All High School Students Act will lead to an informed, empowered, and more resilient society that can benefit from biotechnology in ways that promote job creation, health, and security - critical areas in today's dynamic world. I want to thank Congresswoman McBride for prioritizing investment in biotechnology at the federal level," said Kelvin Lee, Institute Director, NIIMBL.

"The continued success of our industry - a bipartisan priority for American national security, economic growth and public health - will rely on our ability to spark scientific innovation and reinvigorate our manufacturing capabilities. This requires a greater focus on inspiring and training students for the incredible career opportunities biotechnology offers, from researching and developing breakthrough therapies to important, rich roles that don't require college degrees. Employers rightly expect that our schools are thinking creatively about these issues - so incentivizing, recognizing and funding the most impactful programs through a competitive process will help raise awareness and ultimately deliver sustainable results," said Michael Fleming, President and CEO, Delaware BioScience Association.

"On behalf of the Delaware Afterschool Network, we strongly support this bipartisan bill to expand biotechnology education for secondary school students, including in informal learning environments," said Regina Sidney-Brown, MS, Director of the Delaware Afterschool Network. "Out-of-school time (OST) STEM programs play a vital role in sparking curiosity and building real-world skills through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. By engaging youth in activities such as coding, robotics, and emerging fields like biotechnology, these programs complement classroom instruction and open doors to high-demand career pathways. Equally important, OST programs help close opportunity gaps by reaching underrepresented students and providing access to meaningful STEM experiences that build confidence, critical thinking, and an engineering mindset. When paired with educator professional development and partnerships with local businesses, universities, and STEM organizations, these efforts create a powerful ecosystem that prepares young people for the future workforce. Investing in biotechnology education-both in and out of school-is an investment in innovation, equity, and the long-term economic vitality of our communities."

"Biotechnology has incredible power to inspire curiosity, open doors to discovery, and equip the next generation of STEM innovators to solve real-world challenges," said Dr. Angela Belcher, Commissioner on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology. "The Biotechnology for All High Schools Act will engage students early and often and give them the tools and resources to build, innovate, and shape the future of American science and manufacturing."

"The Afterschool Alliance is pleased to support Representatives McBride and McCormick's Biotechnology for All High School Students Act. By explicitly recognizing informal learning environments-such as afterschool programs-as sites of biotechnology education, the bill reflects the reality of how young people engage with learning across settings. With more than 80 percent of their waking hours spent outside a traditional classroom, afterschool programs are not supplemental to the STEM education ecosystem-they are central to it. We particularly welcome the bill's provisions for stackable credentials, ensuring that what students learn beyond the school day counts toward their futures," said Anita Krishnamurthi, PhD, Senior Vice President for STEM and Youth Civic Engagement at Afterschool Alliance.

"The Biotechnology for All High School Students Act is a critical step toward building a robust bioeconomy - by expanding access to hands-on synthetic biology lab skills and investing in workforce development at the high school level, this legislation ensures that students across the country are equipped with the skills and knowledge to drive the next generation of biotechnological innovation," said Janet Standeven, Director of High School, iGEM and Program Director, Georgia Tech Frugal Science Academy.

"To lead in the bioeconomy of the future, we must invest in biotechnology education now," said Natalie Kuldell, Founder and Executive Director, BioBuilder. "This legislation expands access at scale by supporting teachers, curriculum, laboratory infrastructure, and cross-sector partnerships so biotechnology becomes part of every high school student's education, not limited to select schools. That's how we turn student interest into a workforce ready to lead, and I'm grateful to Rep. Sarah McBride for her leadership."

Full text of the bill can be found here.

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