Fong Introduces Bill to Strengthen Workforce Pipelines for American Scientists and Engineers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressmen Vince Fong (CA-20) and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) introduced the Promoting High-skilled Doctoral Talent (PHD Talent) Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation to build accelerated pathways that take students from a bachelor’s degree to a Ph.D. in critical and emerging technology fields. This legislation will propel more American scientists and engineers into the domestic workforce, ensuring China does not surpass the United States as the global technological leader.

The bill creates a five-year Department of Energy (DOE) pilot program that brings universities, National Laboratories, and private industry together. Students in these programs would get hands-on research experience, mentorship, and workforce training while earning an advanced degree in less time. 

“America’s economy and national security depends on us having a deep bench of skilled, capable, and credentialed American workers,” said Congressman Fong. “Whether it’s cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, defense research, advanced energy systems, medical innovations, or other emerging technologies, we need more homegrown talent. The PHD Talent Act gives students in the Central Valley and across the country a faster, clearer path to the advanced degrees these fields demand.”

"Our country faces a critical shortage of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians,” said Congressman Subramanyam. “This bill shores up and strengthens our pipeline of researchers. This will in turn help the next generation of students make breakthrough discoveries in science, health, and technology, solidifying our country's leadership in these fields."

Specifically, the bill:

• Establishes a five-year DOE pilot program, with Ph.D. fellowships, for accelerated bachelor’s-to-Ph.D. pathways in critical and emerging technology fields, including artificial intelligence, quantum science, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing, among others.
• Supports partnerships among universities, National Laboratories, and industry for accelerated hands-on research and training.
• Shortens the time it takes to earn a STEM Ph.D. while maintaining robust academic standards.
• Directs funding to fields where DOE identifies a need for more domestic doctoral talent.
• Ensures taxpayer-funded student support is reserved for U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents.

Background

The bill builds on the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s July 2026 report, Science: A New Golden Age, which calls for investing directly in American researchers and strengthening the domestic pipeline of advanced STEM talent. It was developed in coordination with DOE as part of The Genesis Mission, an initiative to unite industry, academia, and National Labs to harness artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Congressman Fong is a Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection in the House Homeland Security Committee, and the Subcommittee on Research and Technology in the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. He has made workforce development a priority, including with his NSF AI Education Act, which builds AI and technology pipelines through community colleges and regional universities.

Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Mark Warner (D-VA) are leading the Senate companion bill of the PHD Talent Act. Text of the legislation can be found here. 

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