Reps. Salinas and Fong’s AI Education Bill Passes Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last week, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology unanimously passed Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Congressman Vince Fong's (CA-20) bipartisanNational Science Foundation Artificial Intelligence Education Act (NSF AI Education Act), bipartisan legislation designed to strengthen America's leadership in AI by building the workforce pipelines our economy and national security depend on.

"Artificial intelligence technology has the potential to transform our society for good and drive economic growth across a broad range of industries, including clean energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. At the same time, we need to make sure Americans are able to participate in this technologic revolution," said Rep. Salinas. "I'm pleased to see the committee has passed our legislation, which takes us one step closer to ensuring more people can build the skills they need in the emerging AI workforce while expanding research on responsible uses of AI."

"Emerging technologies are enhancing our economy and America must lead the way," said Congressman Fong. "Now more than ever, it's critical that communities throughout our region are empowered. My legislation increases access to the tools and training that students and workers across the country need to thrive in the 21st-century economy. By expanding education pipelines through scholarships, fellowships, and higher education institutions, we can lay the groundwork for long-term opportunity for the next generation to lead in a world of rapid innovation."

As technology continues to transform every sector of the economy, from agriculture to advanced manufacturing to national defense and cybersecurity, the demand for AI-skilled professionals is skyrocketing. Yet many students, particularly in rural and underserved communities, are being left behind. The NSF AI Education Act addresses this critical gap by building future-ready talent pipelines for America's most important industries.

Specifically, the NSF AI Education Act:

• Authorizes the National Science Foundation to award scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in AI, with an emphasis on high-impact sectors such as education, manufacturing, and agriculture.
• Establishes fellowships for students and faculty to engage in AI-focused professional development across STEM fields, including short-term teaching opportunities for industry professionals to bring real-world expertise into classrooms.
• Enables competitive, merit-based awards for higher education institutions and nonprofits to conduct research and develop AI teaching resources and frameworks for K-12 students - ensuring early exposure to emerging technologies.

The legislation is endorsed by a broad coalition of industry and education leaders including, OpenAI, Google, Zoom, California State University Fresno, California State University Bakersfield, Sierra Sands Unified School District, Kern Community College District, Cerro Coso Community College, the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance, Code.org, the F3 Initiative, Oregon Institute of Technology, ACT | The App Association, and California Community Colleges.

###