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To require Foreign Service officers to complete certain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics training, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill would require the State Department to establish science, technology, engineering, and mathematics training for Foreign Service officers. The training would cover artificial intelligence, next-generation communications, how emerging technologies affect diplomacy, and how adversaries use technology in diplomatic and national security contexts. New Foreign Service officers would be required to complete this training as part of their initial A-100 course. Existing Foreign Service officers would have up to 18 months to complete the full training or 270 days to complete a condensed version of the training.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
2 cosponsors
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to James R. Baird’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NICOSON FARMING INC $6,600
- RELENTLESS DEALER SERVICES $3,300
- GAYLOR ELECTRIC, INC. $3,300
- SHEIN TECHNOLOGY $2,500
- ENTREPRENEUR $2,500
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for James R. Baird → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Apr 9, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. · house
- Apr 9, 2026 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
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>
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