Reps. McCormick, Khanna Introduce a Bipartisan Package to Close America's Biotechnology Workforce Gap

Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act of 2026 pairs with a companion bill to assess and strengthen the federal biotech pipeline.

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2026 - Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA-07) today introduced the Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act of 2026 alongside Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) as part of a bipartisan legislative package aimed at ensuring America's biotechnology workforce keeps pace with the nation's growing research and manufacturing ambitions.


The package pairs Rep. McCormick's bill with Rep. Khanna's Federal Biotechnology Workforce Assessment Act of 2026, together forming a comprehensive, two-pronged strategy to identify workforce gaps and take decisive action to close them.


The United States is rapidly scaling its biotechnology research and biomanufacturing capacity, but federal workforce development programs have not kept up. Despite significant federal investment in biotech R&D, there is no coordinated national workforce strategy. The result is persistent talent shortages across critical fields, including biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, computational biology, omics sciences, and regulatory science.


These gaps don't just slow innovation; they threaten America's ability to convert scientific breakthroughs into commercial products and national security advantages.

 

The Solution:

The Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act of 2026 directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to align federal biotechnology research priorities with workforce development efforts and to strengthen partnerships across education, industry, and government, ensuring that training programs are built around real-world industry needs.


The Federal Biotechnology Workforce Assessment Act of 2026 directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to coordinate with relevant federal agency heads to formally define the biotechnology workforce and assess both current and future federal workforce needs. Findings must be reported directly to Congress.


"America leads the world in biotechnology, and we need to keep it that way. Right now, we're making historic investments in biotech research and biomanufacturing. Still, we're leaving talent on the table because we don't have a coordinated strategy to build the workforce that industry actually needs. This legislation fixes that. By aligning federal research priorities with real workforce development and getting a clear-eyed assessment of our gaps, we can ensure America stays ahead of our adversaries and continues to lead the world in the industries of tomorrow. This is exactly the kind of commonsense, results-driven governing that Americans deserve," said Congressman McCormick, GA-07.


“Expanding the federal biotechnology workforce is vital to ensuring the United States remains the global leader in scientific discovery, invention, and entrepreneurship. I’m proud to introduce my Federal Biotechnology Workforce Assessment Act alongside Rep. McCormick’s Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act to provide a bipartisan approach to identify workforce gaps, strengthen federal coordination, and ensure our biotechnology industry can continue to lead in scientific innovation," said Rep. Ro Khanna.


“A globally competitive biotechnology sector depends on a highly skilled workforce. Georgia Life Sciences is proud to support the Biotechnology Workforce Alignment Act of 2026 because strengthening America’s biotechnology workforce requires greater coordination among education, workforce development, industry needs, and federal research investments. By directing the NSF to identify and support biotechnology workforce pathways, this bill will help better connect students, educators, researchers, and employers to the opportunities driving innovation, economic growth, and U.S. competitiveness,” said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO, Georgia Life Sciences.


“The biotechnology workforce is now a national security asset. These bills are an important step toward making sure the United States can stay ahead in scientific innovation, AI‑enabled discovery, and advanced biomanufacturing. By assessing federal workforce needs and aligning research priorities with real industry demand, Congress is helping make sure we have the talent pipeline needed to turn breakthrough science into strategic advantage. That pipeline has to be broad to include life scientists, but also industrial technicians, mechanics, pipefitters, and other skilled workers who will power the biotechnology economy of the future,” said NSCEB Commissioner Paul Arcangeli. 

 

Source: https://mccormick.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mccormick-khanna-introduce-bipartisan-package-close-americas


May 29, 2026
May 29, 2026 - Georgia Life Sciences is grateful to Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly for their continued investment in innovation, workforce development, and the future of Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem through the FY27 state budget. This funding, now in its 8th year, will support the continued growth of Georgia Life Sciences’ Biotech Teacher Training Initiative (BTTI) and strengthen our mission to build a world-class life sciences workforce pipeline across the state. By equipping educators with hands-on biotechnology and medtech training, industry-aligned curriculum (integrating medtech/AI/robotics), and real-world learning experiences, we are helping prepare students for high-demand careers in Georgia’s rapidly growing life sciences sector. Georgia continues to demonstrate national leadership by investing in the infrastructure, talent, and partnerships needed to drive scientific innovation, economic growth, and improved health outcomes. We appreciate the support of Governor Kemp and members of the General Assembly who recognize the critical role the life sciences industry plays in Georgia’s economy and future competitiveness.
May 28, 2026
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May 22, 2026
ALPHARETTA, Ga., May 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Biomedical today announced the grand opening of its world-class manufacturing facility spanning more than 26,000 square feet in Alpharetta, Georgia. The opening marks the most advanced commercial-scale manufacturing site for Micron’s dissolvable vaccine and therapeutic technology in the world and positions the company for pivotal clinical trials that will accelerate the availability of needle-free vaccines and therapeutics that can be self-administered at home. “A significant body of evidence has shown that our dissolvable microarray technology is as effective as — or more effective than — conventionally injected medicines. Parents, patients, government officials, drug developers, public health leaders, and payers also prefer needle-free vaccines and therapeutics that are simpler and more cost-effective to transport and store,” said Steven Damon, CEO of Micron Biomedical . “Our novel technology requires equally innovative manufacturing equipment capable of scaling production, and this facility brings us one step closer to making that vision a reality.” Micron’s technology uses a dissolvable microarray “button” that is applied directly to the skin and, when pressed, painlessly delivers medications that dissolve in the uppermost layers of skin. The facility houses all of the equipment and manufacturing capabilities to design and produce Micron’s technology at scale including R&D facilities, wet labs, dry labs, storage and professional office spaces. Micron Biomedical’s grand opening ceremony was attended by business leaders, elected officials, investors, members of academia and other stakeholders. Representatives from the CDC were also in attendance as recently the CDC launched its first-ever clinical trial of a needle-free vaccine, evaluating a novel rotavirus vaccine, CC24, delivered via Micron Biomedical’s dissolvable microarray technology. The trial, at Emory University, builds on research, published in The Lancet, about self-administered seasonal influenza vaccine via Micron Biomedical’s dissolvable microarray technology, as well as studies across other disease indications, including measles and rubella . “Georgia is emerging as one of the country’s most important biotech manufacturing hubs, attracting talented scientists, engineers, business leaders and creating exciting economic and professional opportunities for our residents,” said Todd Jones, Georgia House Representative . “With its award winning first-in-the industry technology, Micron Biomedical is among the state’s leaders in simultaneously transforming the health of people around the world with never-before-possible access to medicine and vaccines - and in investing in the workforce of tomorrow with high paying jobs and growth opportunities." This year, published research reinforced consumer preference for microarray technology and Micron Biomedical was recognized as the number two most innovative company in its class by Fast Company for addressing global demand for simplified administration and distribution of vaccines and drugs. The scientific community support includes recent commentary in The Lancet which called Micron’s technology “game-changing in humanitarian settings.” Micron’s technology class has also been identified as the highest global priority innovation for overcoming immunization barriers in low- and middle-income countries by the Vaccine Innovation Prioritisation Strategy (VIPS) Alliance. “This milestone reflects the type of coordinated ecosystem growth outlined in Georgia Life Sciences’ recently released Roadmap for Georgia’s Life Sciences Sector — bringing together industry, startups, manufacturers, educators, investors, and policymakers to strengthen the state’s innovation and manufacturing capabilities,” said Maria Thacker Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences , who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. “With this cutting-edge facility, Micron is helping advance Georgia’s position as a national leader in biotechnology, medical technology, and life sciences innovation while reinforcing the state’s role as a scale-up manufacturing hub for the Southeast.” “Ribbon cuttings are always special and momentous events, but this one is especially satisfying because it points to an infrastructure for pivotal clinical trials of technologies being studied at Emory that have the potential to save lives and reduce disease burden by expanding coverage and access to critical medications,” said Christina Rostad MD, pediatric infectious disease associate professor at Emory University and lead investigator of the CD244 trial who provided commentary remotely. “Our team at Emory University is excited to be a part of the celebration and look forward to continuing to explore the potential of Micron Biomedical’s dissolvable microarray vaccine technology.“ About Micron Biomedical Micron Biomedical is the leader in dissolvable microarray-based, drug and vaccine administration technology with a growing pipeline of needle-free versions of previously injectable-only medicines. Micron Biomedical is a clinical-stage life science company on a rapid path to commercializing its proprietary dissolvable, microarray technology. Micron’s technology is designed to improve access and achieve better health outcomes globally through injection-free, painless, and simple and/or self-administration of drugs and vaccines, and by eliminating or reducing the need for cold chain transport and storage, enhancing safety and efficacy, and improving patient compliance. Micron partners with and/or receives funding from private and public entities including pharmaceutical and biotech companies, the Gates Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PATH and the Georgia Research Alliance. For more information visit www.micronbiomedical.com . Press Contact Shira Derasmo M: +1-917-280-2497 E: pr@micronbiomedical.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31153de2-caed-4aa2-b291-ebeed2652b70 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d855a883-fb26-47ce-9831-8ef1e0b93f43
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