Expanding AI Voices Act
Sponsored By: Representative Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
Introduced
Summary
Broadening AI research capacity beyond top institutions is the bill's central aim. It would direct the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to make competitive, merit-reviewed awards to colleges and nonprofit groups to expand AI research, education, and workforce development across under-resourced and historically underserved institutions.
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- Eligible colleges, including those not among the top 100 in federal research and development spending, historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges, and other minority-serving institutions would be able to get grants to build or expand AI research programs, recruit faculty, and access computing and data resources.
- Students and early-career researchers would gain more bridge programs, workshops, and pathways into graduate study and AI jobs, plus training that integrates ethical and responsible AI practices into curricula.
- Consortia and nonprofit partners could form public-private collaborations with federal labs, industry, and state or local governments to share resources, host workshops, and provide engineering and networking support for AI projects.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More AI grants for colleges
If enacted, this bill would create an NSF program to give competitive, merit-reviewed grants to colleges, eligible nonprofits, and consortia to broaden AI research, education, and workforce training. Grants would target institutions outside the usual top 100 R&D schools, plus HBCUs, MSIs, Tribal Colleges, and consortia of those groups. Award money would be used to expand AI research programs, recruit and train faculty, run post-baccalaureate bridge programs, provide computing and data access, host workforce workshops, and add ethics and responsible AI training. NSF would be required to do outreach to underserved regions, avoid duplicating existing programs, and consider geographic diversity and resource constraints; the amendment sets no specific funding amounts.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
IA • R
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov