H.R. 9341

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9341 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9341

To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology to develop guidelines to assist agencies with preparing open 
Government data assets to be used to train artificial intelligence 
models, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 18, 2026

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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology to develop guidelines to assist agencies with preparing open 
Government data assets to be used to train artificial intelligence 
models, 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 ``AI-Ready Federal Data Guidelines 
Act''.

SEC. 2. AI-READY DATA GUIDELINES FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES.

(a) In General.--The National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act is amended by inserting after section 21 (15 U.S.C. 278g-4) the 
following new section:

``SEC. 21A. AI-READY DATA GUIDELINES FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES.

``(a) Development of Guidelines.--
``(1) In general.--The Director, in consultation with the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the 
Secretary of Energy, the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget, and the head of any other Federal agency the 
Director considers appropriate, shall develop voluntary 
guidelines to assist agencies with preparing datasets, 
including open Government data assets, to be used to train 
artificial intelligence models.
``(2) Elements.--In developing the guidelines under 
paragraph (1) the Director shall carry out the following:
``(A) Address, to the extent practicable, the 
following:
``(i) Data formatting and structure, 
including guidelines to ensure datasets are 
interpretable by artificial intelligence 
systems.
``(ii) Data labeling and annotation, 
including scalable methods such as 
programmatic, automated, and expert-guided 
approaches for preparing data for use in 
artificial intelligence development.
``(iii) Data quality evaluation, including 
guidelines to assess the suitability of 
datasets for use in artificial intelligence 
systems.
``(iv) Metadata and documentation, 
including information sufficient to enable 
appropriate interpretation and use of datasets 
for artificial intelligence development.
``(v) Data maintenance, including guidance 
for the ongoing management and updating of 
datasets to ensure continued suitability for 
use in artificial intelligence systems.
``(vi) Data availability, including 
guidelines for improving and expanding 
automated access to publicly available 
information for artificial intelligence model 
development and use.
``(B) Enable flexible implementation, to the extent 
practicable, for various use cases across sectors and 
scientific domains.
``(C) Ensure, to the extent practicable, 
consistency with Circular A-119 of the Office of 
Management and Budget.
``(D) Conformity assessment procedures, to the 
extent practicable.
``(b) Pilot Programs for AI-ready Data Guidelines.--
``(1) In general.--The Director, in coordination with the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the 
Secretary of Energy, and the head of any other Federal agency 
the Director determines appropriate, may carry out pilot 
programs to support the development of conformity assessment 
procedures for AI-ready datasets used in specific sectors and 
scientific domains.
``(2) Requirements.--If pilot programs under this 
subsection are carried out, such programs shall--
``(A) not exceed one year in duration;
``(B) develop supplemental guidelines for AI-ready 
datasets used in specific sectors and scientific 
domains in accordance with the guidelines published 
under subsection (a);
``(C) assess the impact of such guidelines on data 
usability, interoperability, and readiness for use in 
artificial intelligence systems in specific sectors and 
scientific or domains;
``(D) identify technical, operational, or resource 
challenges associated with future implementation and 
maintenance of such guidelines in specific sectors and 
scientific domains; and
``(E) develop, as practicable and appropriate, a 
process and materials for the transition to an 
appropriate non-Federal entity of such guidelines for 
future implementation of and updates to such 
guidelines.
``(3) Selection of topics.--If pilot programs under this 
subsection are carried out, such programs shall prioritize 
areas--
``(A) with significant national security and 
industrial competitiveness implications, such as 
biotechnology and biomanufacturing; and
``(B) with respect to which Federal agencies 
control and maintain AI-ready datasets.
``(3) Participation.--If pilot programs under this 
subsection are carried out, the Director shall carry out not 
more than two concurrent such programs through federally funded 
research programs, National Laboratories, institutions of 
higher education, or partnerships with the private sector.
``(c) Congressional Briefings.--Not later than one year after the 
publication of the guidelines under subsection (a) and annually 
thereafter for five years, the Director shall brief the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the 
implementation of this section.
``(d) Prohibition.--The Director may not transfer or reprogram any 
funds from any other program, project, office, or other entity or 
activity of the Institute to carry out this section.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Agency.--The term `agency' has the meaning given such 
term in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code.
``(2) Artificial intelligence.--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).
``(3) Artificial intelligence model.--The term `artificial 
intelligence model' means a component of an artificial 
intelligence system that is--
``(A) derived using mathematical, computational, 
statistical, or machine-learning techniques; and
``(B) used as part of an artificial intelligence 
system to produce outputs from a given set of inputs.
``(4) 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.
``(5) Biomanufacturing.--The term `biomanufacturing' has 
the meaning given such term in section 10002 of the Research 
and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 
18901; popularly referred to as the `CHIPS and Science Act').
``(6) Conformity assessment procedure.--The term 
`conformity assessment procedure' has the meaning given such 
term in section 451 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 
U.S.C. 2571).
``(7) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
``(8) Institution of higher education.--The term 
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given such 
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001).
``(9) 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).
``(10) Open government data asset.--The term `open 
Government data asset' has the meaning given such term in 
section 3502 of title 44, United States Code.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (f) of section 22A of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278h-1) 
is repealed.
<all>