H.R. 9402

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9402 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9402

To support National Science Foundation education and professional 
development relating to artificial intelligence, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 23, 2024

Mr. Fong (for himself and Ms. Salinas) 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 2024''.

SEC. 2. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Paragraph (2) of section 5401(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, 
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.--
``(i) In general.--The Director of the 
National Science Foundation may carry out a 
nationwide outreach campaign to students at 
elementary schools, secondary schools, career 
and technical education schools, 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.
``(ii) Priority.--In carrying out the 
campaign described in clause (i), the Director 
of the National Science Foundation may 
prioritize outreach to groups historically 
underrepresented in STEM, including in 
underserved and rural areas.
``(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 fellowships 
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) Report 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 post-
doctoral students who enter the 
workforce in a field relating to such 
scholarship or fellowship;
``(V) assess the impact in 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(e)(3) 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, territorial, or Tribal 
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 labor or workforce 
training organization, which 
may include State workforce 
development boards and local 
workforce development boards as 
established under sections 101 
and 107 of the Workforce 
Investment and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3111 and 3122).
``(ff) A nonprofit 
organization.
``(III) Labor organization.--The 
term `labor organization' has the 
meaning given such term in section 2(5) 
of the National Labor Relations Act (29 
U.S.C. 152(5)), except that such term 
shall also include the following:
``(aa) Any organization 
composed of labor 
organizations, such as a labor 
union federation or a State or 
municipal labor body.
``(bb) Any organization 
that would be included in the 
definition for such term in 
such section 2(5) but for the 
fact that the organization 
represents any of the 
following:

``(AA) An 
individual employed by 
the United States, any 
wholly owned Government 
corporation, any 
Federal Reserve Bank, 
or any State or 
political subdivision 
thereof.

``(BB) An 
individual employed by 
persons subject to the 
Railway Labor Act (45 
U.S.C. 151 et seq.).

``(CC) An 
individual employed as 
agricultural laborers.

``(IV) 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 1980 (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, and leveraging the 
Regional Innovation Engines, the Advanced 
Technical Education program, and other programs 
of the National Science Foundation, 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) Outreach plans for recruiting 
and enrolling women and other 
underrepresented populations.
``(VI) 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 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 hands-on research 
opportunities 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.
``(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 or an institution 
of higher education (or a consortium thereof) 
that has extensive experience and expertise in 
artificial intelligence.
``(vii) 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.
``(viii) 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 and its integration into the classroom, 
teaching, and learning for pre-kindergarten through 
grade 12 students who are from low-income, rural, or 
Tribal populations.
``(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 the student 
demographics on which the research supported 
under the award intends to focus.
``(ii) A description of any regional 
partnerships the eligible entity plans to 
utilize to carry out the award.
``(iii) 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.
``(iv) 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.
``(v) 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--
``(A) emphasize preparing incoming K-12 teachers to 
integrate artificial intelligence into their classrooms 
in innovative ways; and
``(B) support research to develop, pilot, fully 
implement, or test areas, such as--
``(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; 
and
``(iv) tools and models for teaching and 
learning aimed at supporting student success 
and inclusion in artificial intelligence across 
diverse populations, including low-income, 
rural, and Tribal populations.
``(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, 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) Rural and Underserved Communities Artificial Intelligence 
Collaborative.--
``(1) In general.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation may establish a pilot program of regional cohorts in 
rural and traditionally underserved areas 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.
``(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).''.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL STEM TEACHERS CORPS.

Paragraph (6) of section 10311(c) of the Research and Development, 
Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18991(c); enacted as part of 
title III of division B of Public Law 116-117) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' after the 
semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(H) incorporating artificial intelligence skills 
development into the National STEM Teacher Corps, 
including consideration of the development of 
artificial intelligence best practices for high school 
teachers, developed in consultation with other 
educators and academia.''.
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