Expanding AI Voices Act

Sponsor: Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic-DE)July 21, 2026

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Creates new grants for colleges and nonprofits to boost AI research and education.

This bill would create a new program at the National Science Foundation to give grants for artificial intelligence (AI) research and education. These grants would go to colleges and universities that aren't top research spenders, as well as minority-serving institutions and nonprofits. The goal is to help more places and people get involved in developing AI technology and training the future workforce.

What Would Change

Today, there isn't a specific federal program through the National Science Foundation focused on broadening participation in AI research and education through competitive awards to a diverse range of institutions. If this bill becomes law, the NSF would be required to create such a program. This would open up grant opportunities for colleges not among the top 100 in federal research spending, as well as minority-serving institutions, to develop their AI capabilities.

Key Provisions

Creates a new grant program at the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support artificial intelligence (AI) research, education, and workforce training.
Lets colleges and universities not among the top 100 in federal research spending, as well as minority-serving institutions, apply for these competitive grants.
Allows nonprofit organizations to team up with eligible colleges to apply for these grants.
Requires grant money to be used for things like starting AI research programs, hiring and training AI faculty, and helping students prepare for graduate studies in AI.
Directs the NSF to reach out to diverse institutions across all regions of the U.S. to encourage them to apply for these awards.

View on Congress.gov

S 5050 · 119th Congress · July 21, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 10/10

Expanding AI Voices Act

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity