Cloud LAB Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Young, Todd [R-IN]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a national pilot network of remote, robot‑driven biotechnology "cloud" laboratories to expand access to high‑quality instruments and standardized biological data. It would direct the National Science Foundation to design and run a multi‑phase program that coordinates public and private cloud labs, emphasizes secure data sharing, and balances industry engagement with broad researcher access.
Show full summary
- Researchers and institutions: Would give scientists remote access to automated experiments and high‑quality biological data to support individual projects and training of AI models. This aims to open advanced equipment to users who lack local facilities.
- Funding and timelines: NSF would competitively fund at least 2 Phase II cloud labs within 2 years and at least 3 Phase III cloud labs within 4 years, with Phase II awards lasting at least 8 years and Phase III awards lasting at least 6 years.
- Governance, equity, and security: An advisory board of federal, academic, industry, and ethics experts would set data priorities, advise on access for undergraduate and minority‑serving institutions, and require built‑in cybersecurity, biosecurity, IP frameworks, and a low or no‑cost model for nonproprietary work. The pilot and advisory board would sunset after 12 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
National cloud lab plan and rules
This bill would require the NSF Director to prepare a national cloud laboratory network plan within 360 days, consulting Energy, NIST, and other agencies. The plan must list public and private cloud labs, locations, financing and payment models, and a way to choose sites for grant funding. It must describe data storage, publication, and how authorized researchers get access. The plan must include a payment/subscription model that considers equitable access and lets nonproprietary work use funded labs at little or no cost. The bill would also require funded cloud labs to generate high-quality biological data for AI training and to give researchers access to instruments and data for projects.
New cloud lab advisory board
This bill would require the NSF Director to set up a cloud laboratory advisory board within 180 days. The board would include NSF and other federal employees, academic researchers, biosecurity and ethics experts, and industry representatives. It would advise on data priorities, safeguards, cybersecurity, who counts as an "authorized researcher," and how to expand access to high-end equipment. The board would make an annual recommendations report and would end 12 years after enactment.
Grants to fund cloud labs
This bill would let the NSF Director make competitive grants, if Congress provides money. Within 2 years, the Director would award grants for at least 2 Phase II cloud labs. Each Phase II lab must be fully operational by year 3 and have at least an 8-year award. By year 4, the Director would award grants for at least 3 separate Phase III cloud labs, each for at least 6 years. Awards must be competitive and made in consultation with Energy, NIST, and the interagency biotech coordinator.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Young, Todd [R-IN]
IN • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov