H.R. 9334

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9334 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9334

To amend the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to 
facilitate the growth of multidisciplinary teams that can advance the 
development and training of safe and trustworthy artificial 
intelligence systems, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 18, 2026

Ms. Lofgren (for herself and Mr. Lucas) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to 
facilitate the growth of multidisciplinary teams that can advance the 
development and training of safe and trustworthy artificial 
intelligence systems, 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 ``Workforce for AI Trust Act''.

SEC. 2. NSF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION; NIST 
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GOVERNANCE WORKFORCE.

(a) Definition.--Section 5002 of the National Artificial 
Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401; 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 by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(12) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory' 
has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).''.
(b) Fellowships.--Subsection (e) of section 5401 of the National 
Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9451) is 
amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``faculty''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
``(D) Interdisciplinary artificial intelligence 
fellowships.--
``(i) In general.--The Director of the 
National Science Foundation may support 
graduate and postdoctoral research fellowships 
for students and postdoctoral researchers from 
across disciplines, including social science 
disciplines and the humanities, by making 
awards through eligible institutions of higher 
education for research and related activities 
related to the trustworthy design, development, 
training, deployment, evaluation, and 
understanding of artificial intelligence.
``(ii) Use of awards.--An institution of 
higher education that receives an award under 
clause (i) to support graduate and postdoctoral 
research fellowships for students and 
postdoctoral researchers described in such 
clause shall use such award for any of the 
following, as the case may be:
``(I) For graduate fellowships, 
tuition, education-related fees, and 
stipends for up to three academic 
years.
``(II) For postdoctoral 
fellowships, salaries, benefits, 
relocation costs, related conference 
travels, and research expenses for up 
to three years.
``(III) Such other expenses as the 
Director of the National Science 
Foundation determines appropriate.
``(iii) Eligibility.--To be eligible to 
receive an award under clause (i) to support 
graduate and postdoctoral research fellowships 
for students and postdoctoral researchers 
described in such clause, an institution of 
higher education applying for such an award 
shall ensure such students and postdoctoral 
researchers satisfy the following:
``(I) Are citizens, nationals, or 
lawful permanent residents of the 
United States.
``(II) Demonstrate a commitment to 
a career in research into fields and 
research areas that will contribute to 
the development and deployment of 
trustworthy artificial intelligence 
systems, including in areas of 
security, safety, reliability, or other 
aspects of artificial intelligence 
trustworthiness as established by the 
National Institute of Standards and 
Technology pursuant to section 22A of 
the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278h-1).
``(III) For graduate fellowships, 
are--
``(aa) full-time students 
in an eligible program at the 
institution of higher 
education, as determined by the 
Director of the National 
Science Foundation; or
``(bb) students pursuing a 
degree on a less than full-time 
basis, but not less than half-
time basis, in an eligible 
program at the institution of 
higher education, as determined 
by the Director.
``(IV) For postdoctoral 
fellowships, have a doctoral degree in 
an eligible program, as determined by 
the Director, have received such degree 
not earlier than five years before the 
date that such fellowship begins, and 
have a postdoctoral appointment at a 
host institution.
``(iv) Application.--An institution of 
higher education that seeks an award under 
clause (i) 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. At a 
minimum, the Director shall require such an 
application to include a description of the 
following:
``(I) How the proposed research and 
activities are designed to contribute 
to the development and deployment of 
trustworthy artificial intelligence 
systems, including ways to design, 
train, evaluate, and understand such 
systems.
``(II) How the students and 
postdoctoral researchers described in 
clause (i) who are the subject of such 
application will be integrated with 
artificial intelligence researchers at 
such institution in a role consistent 
with being a member of an 
interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary 
team.
``(III) How such institution plans 
to disseminate to the broader 
artificial intelligence systems 
research community any research 
findings, learned best practices, or 
technical solutions that are the 
outcome of such an award.
``(vi) Administrative agreements.--
Fellowships supported by an award under clause 
(i) may include temporary artificial 
intelligence-related positions at Federal or 
State agencies, National Laboratories, private 
sector entities, institutions of higher 
education, the Institute, or other artificial 
intelligence relevant entities, as determined 
appropriate by the Director of the National 
Science Foundation.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) Artificial intelligence skills-based training across 
the national science foundation.--The Director of the National 
Science Foundation shall seek to encourage the application of 
artificial intelligence systems to accelerate scientific 
discovery and technology development across all fields of STEM 
supported by the Foundation, including by supporting the 
following:
``(A) Training for undergraduate and graduate 
students and postdoctoral researchers through existing 
technical and skills-based training or certification 
programs, and, as appropriate, by providing for 
additional experiential learning experiences.
``(B) Development and hosting of intra or inter-
institutional workshops on the application of 
trustworthy artificial intelligence systems to new uses 
in research, development, demonstration, testing, 
dissemination, and evaluation.
``(C) Administrative and award supplements to 
existing research awards to support professional 
development experiences for graduate students and 
postdoctoral researchers who receive a substantial 
portion of the support of such students and researchers 
in connection with such research awards to learn how to 
apply artificial intelligence systems to the research 
of such students and researchers, as determined by the 
Director.''.
(c) Workshops.--Subsection (d) of section 5401 of the National 
Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9451) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Workshops.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation may make awards for the development and hosting of 
intra- or inter-institutional workshops to facilitate the 
growth of multidisciplinary teams that can advance the 
development and training of trustworthy artificial intelligence 
systems.''.
(d) Peer Review Panels.--Section 5401 of the National Artificial 
Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9451) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new 
subsection:
``(g) Peer Review Panels.--As practicable and appropriate, the 
Director of the National Science Foundation shall ensure any merit 
review panel convened to evaluate a proposal related to artificial 
intelligence systems research and related activities integrates 
perspectives from multiple and diverse research disciplines, including 
researchers from social science, technology ethics, normative ethics, 
legal, and linguistic disciplines.''.

SEC. 3. NIST ACTIVITIES TO DESCRIBE AND SUPPORT THE ARTIFICIAL 
INTELLIGENCE WORKFORCE.

(a) Authorities to Support Workforce Frameworks.--Subsection (b) of 
section 2 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 272) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (12), by striking ``and'' after the 
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(14) to provide industry, government, and research, 
nonprofit, and educational institutions with workforce 
frameworks for critical and emerging technologies and other 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics domains for 
the purpose of bolstering scientific and technical education, 
training, and workforce development.''.
(b) NIST Activities to Support the Artificial Intelligence 
Governance Workforce.--Section 22A of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278h-1) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as 
paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
new paragraph:
``(3) support education and workforce development 
activities to expand the artificial intelligence workforce, 
including careers related to helping organizations govern, map, 
measure, and manage artificial intelligence related risk, 
including testing, evaluation, verification, and validation of 
artificial intelligence;''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(i) Definition.--In this section, the term `artificial 
intelligence' has the meaning given such term in section 5002 of the 
National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 
9401).''.
(c) Artificial Intelligence Workforce Framework.--
(1) In general.--Title LIII of the National Artificial 
Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9441 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 5304. NIST ACTIVITIES TO CATEGORIZE THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 
WORKFORCE.

``(a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, 
the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the 
Office of Personnel Management, and the heads of other Federal 
departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall develop fundamental 
reference resources for describing and sharing information regarding 
work related to artificial intelligence to address workforce gaps.
``(b) Activities.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall carry out the following:
``(A) Develop and periodically update an artificial 
intelligence workforce framework, which shall include 
the following components:
``(i) A common, consistent lexicon to 
describe artificial intelligence employment-
related activities by work role, competency 
area, or other categorization, as appropriate.
``(ii) A description of the tasks, 
knowledge, or skills that are needed to perform 
artificial intelligence work.
``(B) Support interoperability and avoid 
unnecessary duplication of the such components of such 
framework with components in other workforce 
frameworks, including the National Initiative for 
Cybersecurity Education Cybersecurity Workforce 
Framework or successor framework.
``(C) Develop guidelines regarding how to use the 
artificial intelligence workforce framework under 
subparagraph (A) for different aspects of workforce 
development, education, and training purposes.
``(D) Support external use of such framework, 
including relating to the following:
``(i) The development of technical 
guidelines and best practices related to the 
artificial intelligence workforce, or 
dissemination of existing related guidelines, 
as appropriate.
``(ii) Outreach and dissemination to 
artificial intelligence programs at all 
education levels of such framework to prepare 
and improve a skilled artificial intelligence 
workforce for the public and private sectors.
``(2) Stakeholder input.--In carrying out this subsection, 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology shall seek input from the following:
``(A) Federal departments and agencies.
``(B) State, local, Tribal, and territorial 
governments.
``(C) Industry.
``(D) Institutions of higher education.
``(E) National Laboratories.
``(F) Labor organizations.
``(G) Non-profit organizations.
``(c) Supporting Efforts to Identify and Address Federal Artificial 
Intelligence Workforce Gaps.--The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology shall use the artificial intelligence 
workforce framework under subsection (b)(1)(A) to provide technical 
assistance to the following:
``(1) The Director of the National Science Foundation, in 
developing criteria to designate qualified institutions of 
higher education for the Federal AI Scholarship-for-Service 
Program under section 10313(d) of the Research and Development, 
Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18993(d)).
``(2) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management, 
to align the appropriate roles, knowledge, skills, abilities, 
and tasks specified in such framework with the activities 
described in section 105 of the AI in Government Act (title I 
of division U of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 
(Public Law 116-260)).
``(d) Publication.--Not later than one year after the development 
of the artificial intelligence workforce framework under subsection 
(b)(1)(A), the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate such framework and 
make such framework publicly available on the website of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Artificial intelligence system.--The term `artificial 
intelligence system' means any data system, software, hardware, 
application, tool, service, or utility that operates in whole 
or in part using artificial intelligence.
``(2) 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:
``(A) Any organization composed of labor 
organizations, such as a labor union federation or a 
State or municipal labor body.
``(B) Any organization which would be included in 
the definition for such term under such section, but 
for the fact that the organization represents 
individuals--
``(i) employed by the United States, any 
wholly owned Government corporation, any 
Federal Reserve Bank, or any State or political 
subdivision thereof;
``(ii) employed by persons subject to the 
Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 et seq.); or
``(iii) employed as agricultural laborers.
``(3) Non-profit organization.--The term `non-profit 
organization' means an organization described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 
tax under section 501(a) of such Code.
``(4) Technical standard.--The term `technical standard' 
has the meaning given such term in section 12(d)(5) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 
U.S.C. 272 note).
``(5) Workforce framework.--The term `workforce framework' 
means a common taxonomy and lexicon for any given domain that 
includes the building blocks of tasks, knowledge, or skills 
that can be structured to form work roles or competency 
areas.''.
(2) Clerical amendments.--The tables of contents in section 
2(b) and title LIII of division E of the William M. (Mac) 
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2021 are amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 5303 the following new item: ``Sec. 5304. NIST 
activities to categorize the artificial intelligence 
workforce.''.
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