Building an AI-Ready America: How AI Is Creating Opportunities Across America's Workforce

The House Committee on Education & Workforce held a hearing on July 25, 2026, titled "Building an AI-Ready America: How AI Is Creating Opportunities Across America's Workforce." The discussion focused on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across various sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare. Witnesses highlighted how AI is driving economic growth, improving productivity, and creating new job opportunities while emphasizing the need for responsible adoption and workforce training. Testimonies included examples of AI-enabled biomanufacturing to reduce supply chain dependencies, AI's role in attracting younger workers to agriculture, and AI's augmentation of healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes and reduce burnout. Concerns were raised about AI's potential negative effects on job quality, worker privacy, and discrimination, with calls for policies that include worker input and protect against misuse. The hearing underscored the importance of investing in AI infrastructure, workforce development, and innovation to maintain U.S. competitiveness, while balancing regulation to foster growth without stifling innovation.