[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5351 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5351
To support National Science Foundation education and professional
development relating to artificial intelligence, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 15, 2025
Mr. Fong (for himself, Ms. Salinas, and Ms. Pettersen) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To support National Science Foundation education and professional
development relating to artificial intelligence, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``NSF AI Education Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Paragraph (2) of section 540l(e) of the National Artificial
Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9451(e); enacted as part
of title LIV of division E of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283)) is
amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``Faculty''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(D) Student scholarships and fellowships in
artificial intelligence.--
``(i) In general.--The Director of the
National Science Foundation may support
scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate
and graduate students by making awards through
institutions of higher education, including
community colleges, to students who are
enrolled in programs of study leading to
degrees or concentrations in or related to the
design, research, assessment, development,
deployment, integration, or application of
artificial intelligence.
``(ii) Considerations.--In carrying out
clause (i), the Director of the National
Science Foundation may prioritize making awards
to students who are enrolled in programs of
study leading to degrees or concentrations in
or related to any of the following:
``(I) The teaching of artificial
intelligence at elementary schools,
secondary schools, career and technical
education schools, institutions of
higher education, or through other
higher education and professional
education programs.
``(II) Artificial intelligence and
advanced manufacturing, including the
integration of artificial intelligence
into advanced manufacturing operations.
``(III) Artificial intelligence and
agriculture, including the integration
of artificial intelligence into
agricultural operations, prediction,
and decision making.
``(iii) Awards.--Scholarships and
fellowships awarded under this subparagraph may
be in the form of awards that may cover the
cost of tuition, education-related fees, a
stipend, and professional development funds for
a period of up to five years. Such scholarships
and fellowships shall be paid directly to the
institution of higher education in which the
student is enrolled.
``(iv) Outreach.--The Director of the
National Science Foundation shall conduct
outreach and encourage applications from rural-
located institutions of higher education,
rural-serving institutions of higher education,
emerging research institutions, Tribal Colleges
or Universities, and institutions located in an
Established Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research (EPSCoR) jurisdiction.
``(v) Method.--The Director of the National
Science Foundation may carry out this
subparagraph by making awards through new or
existing programs.
``(E) Artificial intelligence professional
development fellowships.--
``(i) In general.--The Director of the
National Science Foundation may support
activities to promote the exchange of ideas and
encourage collaborations between institutions
of higher education and industry partners in
the field of artificial intelligence, including
through fellowships for students, teachers,
faculty, and industry professionals.
``(ii) Supplementals for students and
faculty.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation may award fellowships for students
and faculty to pursue professional development
programs in STEM fields that are administered
by or affiliated with institutions of higher
education, including community colleges, in
order to enable recipients to attain skills,
training, or education in partnership with
industry members on the design, research,
assessment, development, deployment,
integration, or application of artificial
intelligence.
``(iii) Fellowships for industry
professionals.--The Director of the National
Science Foundation may award fellowships to
industry professionals to enable recipients to
seek short-term appointments to instruct and
educate students on the design, research,
assessment, development, deployment,
integration, or application of artificial
intelligence.
``(iv) Fellowships for school
professionals.--The Director of the National
Science Foundation may award fellowships to
teachers, school counselors, and other school
professionals for professional development
programs in order to enable recipients to
attain skills, training, or education in
partnership with industry members on the
teaching, use of, or application of artificial
intelligence in K-12 settings.
``(v) Awards.--Awards made under this
subparagraph may be in the form of an award
that covers the cost of tuition, education-
related fees, a stipend, and professional
development funds for up to one year. Such
awards shall be paid directly to the
institution of higher education that
administers, or is affiliated with, the program
in which the fellowship recipient is
participating.
``(F) National science foundation outreach
campaign.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation may carry out a nationwide outreach campaign
to industry as well as students at elementary schools,
secondary schools, career and technical education
schools, and institutions of higher education, or
through other higher education and professional
education programs, to increase awareness regarding
National Science Foundation-funded artificial
intelligence education opportunities.
``(G) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a
scholarship or fellowship under this paragraph, an
individual shall satisfy all of the following:
``(i) Be a citizen, national, or lawful
permanent resident of the United States.
``(ii) Demonstrate a commitment to a career
in advancing the field of artificial
intelligence.
``(iii) Accept the terms of a fellowship
under this subparagraph.
``(H) Reports.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than seven
years after the date of the enactment of this
subparagraph, the Director of the National
Science Foundation shall submit to Congress,
and make widely available to the public, a
report including any recommendations for
legislative action that could optimize the
effectiveness of the scholarships and
fellowships under this paragraph.
``(ii) Requirements.--In preparing the
reports under clause (i), the Director of the
National Science Foundation may, as
practicable--
``(I) include an assessment of the
effectiveness of such scholarships and
fellowships in expanding
apprenticeships, internships, and other
applied or experiential learning
opportunities offered by employers in
conjunction with community colleges or
other institutions of higher education;
``(II) assess the number of
students who received such scholarships
and fellowship;
``(III) assess the percentage of
such students who successfully complete
their education programs and who intend
to enter the workforce;
``(IV) assess the percentage of
undergraduate, graduate, and
postdoctoral students who enter the
workforce in a field relating to such
scholarship or fellowship;
``(V) assess the impact on the
number of K-12 teachers, school
counselors, and other school
professionals who received such
scholarships or fellowships; and
``(VI) include an assessment of the
effects such scholarships and
fellowships have on related fields.''.
SEC. 3. COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND AREA CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATIONAL
SCHOOL CENTERS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE EXCELLENCE.
(a) In General.--Subparagraph (B) of section 5401 of the National
Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9451(e)(3);
enacted as part of title LIV of division E of the William M. (Mac)
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
(Public Law 116-283)) is amended to read as follows:
``(B) Centers of ai excellence.--
``(i) Definitions.--In this subparagraph:
``(I) Area career and technical
education school.--The term `area
career and technical education school'
has the meaning given such term in
section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20
U.S.C. 2302).
``(II) Eligible applicant.--The
term `eligible applicant' means a
community college, or area career and
technical education school, in
partnership with one or more of the
following:
``(aa) A Federal, State,
local, Tribal, or territorial
government entity.
``(bb) An institution of
higher education.
``(cc) An entity in private
industry.
``(dd) An economic
development organization or
venture development
organization.
``(ee) A nonprofit
organization.
``(III) Venture development
organization.--The term `venture
development organization' has the
meaning given such term in section
27(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of (15 U.S.C.
3722(a)).
``(ii) Establishment of centers of ai
excellence.--The Director of the National
Science Foundation, in coordination with the
Regional Technology Hubs program of the
Department of Commerce, subject to the
availability of appropriations, shall establish
up to eight regionally and geographically
diverse eligible applicants to be designated as
Community College and Area Career and Technical
Education Centers of AI Excellence (referred to
in this subparagraph as `Centers of AI
Excellence'). Such Centers of AI Excellence
shall enhance educational outcomes and drive
workforce development by integrating artificial
intelligence into teaching, learning, and
community engagement.
``(iii) Application.--An eligible applicant
seeking to be designated as a Center of AI
Excellence under this subparagraph shall submit
to the Director of the National Science
Foundation an application at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the
Director may require. Such application shall
include the following:
``(I) A description of the focus
area or areas for such proposed Center
of AI Excellence and how such area or
areas are aligned with regional
investments made by industry and the
Federal Government.
``(II) A description of the
capacity of the applicant to carry out
the purpose of such proposed Center of
AI Excellence.
``(III) A description of
demonstrate current and anticipated
future workforce demands in occupations
directly related to such proposed
Center of AI Excellence.
``(IV) A description of how the
eligible applicant will support the
collection of information and data for
purposes of evaluation of such proposed
Center of AI Excellence.
``(V) An evaluation plan that
includes the use of outcome-oriented
measures to assess the impact and
efficacy of such proposed Center for AI
Excellence.
``(iv) Activities.--A designated Center of
AI Excellence shall develop and disseminate
information regarding best practices for
matters such as the following:
``(I) Artificial intelligence
research and education, and research on
the effects of artificial intelligence
in education, at community colleges and
area career and technical education
schools.
``(II) Methods to scale up
successful programs that perform
research or provide education on
artificial intelligence at community
colleges and area career and technical
education schools.
``(III) Providing educators and
teachers with actionable strategies and
resources to effectively integrate
artificial intelligence into
curriculums in the classroom.
``(IV) Providing experiential
learning opportunities, including
research and industry experiences on
artificial intelligence and learning
opportunities for students that are
enabled through artificial
intelligence.
``(V) Identifying pathways for
students to jobs that are enabled by
artificial intelligence, such as
previously nonexistent jobs with
respect to which artificial
intelligence use is an integral part,
jobs working directly on artificial
intelligence, and previously existing
jobs with respect to which needed
skills have been significantly changed
due to working with artificial
intelligence.
``(VI) Facilitating partnerships
with employers, employer consortia, or
other private sector organizations that
offer apprenticeships, internships,
cooperative education, or applied
learning experiences in the field of
artificial intelligence.
``(v) Partnerships.--The Director of the
National Science Foundation shall encourage
applicants to consider including or partnering
with a nonprofit organization, civil society
organizations, industry, or an institution of
higher education (or a consortium thereof) that
has extensive experience and expertise in
artificial intelligence.
``(vi) Evaluations.--All applications for
designation under clause (ii) shall include an
evaluation plan that includes the use of
outcome-oriented measures to assess the impact
and efficacy of the proposed Center for AI
Excellence.
``(vii) Accountability and dissemination.--
``(I) Evaluation required.--The
Director of the National Science
Foundation shall evaluate the
activities under clause (iv). Such
evaluation, to the extent practicable,
shall integrate the findings of
research resulting from such activity
or activities as a result of a
designation under clause (ii) with the
findings of other research on
artificial intelligence education.
``(II) Report on evaluations.--Not
later than 180 days after the
completion of the evaluation under
subclause (I), the Director of the
National Science Foundation shall
submit to Congress and make widely
available to the public a report that
includes the following:
``(aa) The results of such
evaluation.
``(bb) Any recommendations
for administrative and
legislative action that could
optimize the effectiveness of
the designations made under
clause (ii).''.
SEC. 4. AWARDS FOR RESEARCH ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--Section 5401 of the National Artificial
Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9451; enacted as part of
title LIV of division E of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283)) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (i); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new
subsections:
``(g) Awards for Research on Artificial Intelligence in
Education.--
``(1) Eligible entity defined.--In this subsection, the
term `eligible entity' means any of the following:
``(A) An institution of higher education.
``(B) A nonprofit organization.
``(C) A consortium of one or more institutions of
higher education or nonprofit organizations and one or
more private sector entities.
``(2) Awards.--
``(A) In general.--The Director of the National
Science Foundation may make awards, on a competitive,
merit-reviewed basis, to eligible entities, to enable
such eligible entities to promote research regarding
teaching models, tools, and materials for artificial
intelligence, its integration into the classroom,
teaching, and learning for pre-kindergarten through
grade 12 students, and its impacts on educational and
learning outcomes.
``(B) Method.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation may carry out subparagraph (A) by making
awards through new or existing programs.
``(3) Application.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible entity that desires
to receive an award under this subsection shall submit
to the Director of the National Science Foundation an
application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Director may
require.
``(B) Contents.--An application under subparagraph
(A) may include the following:
``(i) A description of any regional
partnerships the eligible entity plans to
utilize to carry out the award.
``(ii) With respect to an application that
concerns the use or integration of artificial
intelligence, a description of potential
ethical concerns and implications of teacher,
faculty, and student interactions with
artificial intelligence.
``(iii) A description of how proposed
research on teaching models, tools, and
materials were developed in consultation with
other educators, academia, industry, government
entities, or civil society organizations.
``(iv) Such other information as the
Director may require.
``(4) Use of award funds.--Awards described in paragraph
(2)(A) shall be used by the recipient to carry out the
following:
``(A) Emphasize preparing incoming K-12 teachers to
integrate artificial intelligence into their classrooms
in beneficial and innovative ways.
``(B) Support research to develop, pilot, fully
implement, or test topics, such as the following:
``(i) Instructional materials and high-
quality learning opportunities for teaching
artificial intelligence.
``(ii) Models for the preparation of new
teachers who will teach artificial
intelligence.
``(iii) Scalable models of professional
development and ongoing support for teachers.
``(iv) Tools and models for teaching and
learning aimed at supporting student success.
``(v) Evaluations of the effect of
different approaches to teaching artificial
intelligence on students' educational and
learning outcomes.
``(5) Partnerships.--In making awards under this
subsection, the Director of the National Science Foundation
shall carry out the following:
``(A) Encourage applicants which, for the purpose
of the proposed activity or activities funded through
such award, include or partner with a nonprofit
organization or an institution of higher education (or
a consortium thereof) that has extensive experience and
expertise in integrating artificial intelligence into
K-12 classrooms.
``(B) Encourage applicants which, for the purpose
of such proposed activity or activities funded through
such award, include or partner with a consortium of
schools, institutions of higher education, school
districts, non-profit organizations, or other State and
local government entities.
``(C) Encourage applicants which, for the purpose
of such proposed activity or activities funded through
such award, include commitments from school principals,
other school leaders, or administrators to make a
priority reforms and activities proposed by the
applicant.
``(h) Artificial Intelligence Collaborative.--
``(1) In general.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation may establish a pilot program of regional cohorts
that will provide peer support, mentoring, and hands-on
research experiences for educators, principals, and other
school leaders of students in kindergarten through grade 12, in
order to build a network allowing educators, principals, other
school leaders to carry out the following:
``(A) Engage with one another on educational
efforts related to teaching and using artificial
intelligence and evaluating its effects on students'
educational and learning outcomes.
``(B) Interact with researchers, academia, and
local industry involved in artificial intelligence.
``(2) Method.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation may carry out this subsection by making awards
through new or existing programs, including the pilot program
authorized under section 10511(a)(2)(B) of the Research and
Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19172;
enacted as part of title V of division B of Public Law 117-
167).''.
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