introduced the Tech Diplomacy Training Act (H.R. 8212) to ensure all Foreign Service officers receive training on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) concepts prior to being stationed abroad
Require Foreign Service officers to receive STEM training during A-100 orientation before being stationed abroad.
Occurrences
introduced the Tech Diplomacy Training Act (H.R. 8212) to ensure all Foreign Service officers receive training on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) concepts prior to being stationed abroad.
The bill has numerous additional provisions that directly support Indiana’s Fourth District: ... Puts emphasis on science and technological innovation in conservation standards and process reviews.
train our nation’s top diplomats in emerging technologies
Evidence
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The State Department's current Foreign Service careers page says FSOs follow a multi-step selection process in 2026, including the FSOT, oral assessment, medical and security clearances, and a final review panel. It says FSOs can have varied assignments worldwide and that 'no specific degree is required'; it does not identify a STEM training requirement in A-100 orientation. This is an inference from the current page content.
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H.R. 8212, the Tech Diplomacy Training Act, was introduced by Mr. Baird and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The full title states it is "To require Foreign Service officers to complete certain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics training, and for other purposes."
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Baird's office said the Tech Diplomacy Training Act would ensure all Foreign Service officers receive training on STEM concepts prior to being stationed abroad, and added that STEM topics are not currently included in the A-100 course or any Foreign Service orientation.
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Last Action Date Listed: April 9, 2026. Action: Mr. Baird introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Full title: "To require Foreign Service officers to complete certain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics training, and for other purposes."
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The bill text states it is "To require Foreign Service officers to complete certain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics training, and for other purposes" and notes that Mr. Baird introduced the bill on April 9, 2026.
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The State Department describes the Foreign Service Officer process as a multi-stage selection process and says, "The State Department provides extensive language training." The page does not identify any STEM-training requirement in A-100 orientation.
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The official GovInfo record for H.R. 8212 shows Mr. Baird introduced the bill and it was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs on April 9, 2026; the cited record does not show enactment or any later House action.
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The State Department's Foreign Service careers page describes the current selection process as FSOT, oral assessment, medical and security clearances, and a final review panel, and says no specific degree is required; it also says the Department provides extensive language training, with no STEM-orientation requirement described.
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GovInfo shows H.R. 8212 was introduced by Mr. Baird and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs on April 9, 2026. The record does not show enactment or any later legislative action.
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The State Department's current Foreign Service careers page lists the selection process, says no specific degree is required, and notes that the Department provides extensive language training; it does not describe any STEM training requirement in A-100 orientation.
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22 USC 4028: Training for Foreign Service officers Text contains those laws in effect on September 14, 2026
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Tech Diplomacy Training Act, and FORGE Act, passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday, as part of a comprehensive package to modernize U.S. State Department policies.
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Last Action Date Listed September 17, 2026 Action Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
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The Secretary shall require each member of the Service, including a career member, a career candidate, a non-career appointee, a chief of mission, and a deputy chief of mission, to complete, on an annual basis, training on cybersecurity, technology use, and artificial intelligence governance.
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Passed House amended Sept. 16, 2026. Received in Senate and referred to Foreign Relations Sept. 17, 2026.
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Last Action 09/17/2026 Bill H.R.9086 Title Foreign Service Modernization Act
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H.R. 9086.-- To amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to modify and improve that Act. Referred to Foreign Affairs and in addition to Ways and Means June 2, 2026. Rules suspended. Passed House amended Sept. 16, 2026. Received in Senate and referred to Foreign Relations Sept. 17, 2026.
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The training described under paragraph (1) shall be included in the A-100 course attended by each Foreign Service officer.
Assessments
The verified commitment is to train top diplomats in emerging technologies. The only verified outcome evidence shows legislative text requiring the training to be included in the A-100 course for each Foreign Service officer, which documents a concrete matching legislative proposal but not enactment or implementation. Because the evidence does not verify that the requirement became law or was put into effect, and no deadline has expired, the promise remains unresolved rather than delivered or never fulfilled.
Baird materially pursued this promise by introducing H.R. 8212, the Tech Diplomacy Training Act, in the 119th Congress on April 9, 2026. The bill closely matches the promise by requiring STEM-related training for Foreign Service officers, but the official record provided shows only introduction and referral to committee, with no passage, enactment, or implementation. The State Department evidence also does not show that A-100 orientation was updated to include the promised STEM requirement. Under the scoring rule, this is a serious legislative attempt that failed to deliver the promised outcome.
Baird made a clear and serious legislative attempt: on April 9, 2026 he introduced H.R. 8212, the Tech Diplomacy Training Act, whose text would require STEM training in the A-100 course for Foreign Service officers before overseas service. But the official record still shows only introduction and referral to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, with no enactment or other evidence that the requirement became law or was implemented. State Department public Foreign Service guidance also does not show a STEM-training mandate in A-100. Under the scoring rule, a serious attempt that did not achieve the promised outcome counts as never, with effort credit.
The available evidence shows Baird made a concrete legislative attempt that closely matches the promise by introducing H.R. 8212, the Tech Diplomacy Training Act, on April 9, 2026, to require Foreign Service officers to complete STEM training before overseas posting. However, the record only shows introduction and referral to committee, with no evidence of passage, enactment, or State Department implementation of an A-100 STEM training requirement. Because he seriously pursued the promised policy but there is no evidence it was delivered, this is best scored as never with an effort badge.
Baird introduced H.R. 8212, the Tech Diplomacy Training Act, which directly matches the promise by proposing to require Foreign Service officers to complete STEM training before overseas service. The available record shows introduction and referral only, with no enactment, adopted State Department policy, or implemented A-100 STEM training mandate. Because this is a serious legislative attempt that has not delivered the promised outcome, it should be scored as not delivered with an effort badge.
The available evidence only shows that current State Department Foreign Service career guidance does not mention a STEM-training mandate during A-100 orientation. That absence is not enough to prove the promise was never attempted or failed, and there is no evidence here that Baird wrote, sponsored, advanced, or secured passage of a federal requirement creating this training. With no documented legislative or executive action and no confirmed policy change, the claim remains unresolved.