WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) introduced the Expanding AI Voices Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure rural communities, students at under-resourced schools, and first-generation college students have a fair shot to contribute to America’s growing artificial intelligence (AI) economy.
“Artificial intelligence is already reshaping how Iowans work, learn, and live,” said Rep. Nunn. “To make sure this technology strengthens our workforce, AI policy must focus on opening doors—not replacing workers or concentrating opportunities at elite universities. This bipartisan bill expands access to AI training, research, and good-paying jobs so workers, students, and communities in Iowa and across the country can compete and succeed.”
Despite rapid advances in AI, research funding and workforce development remain heavily concentrated in a small number of elite institutions. Many colleges and universities—particularly those serving rural communities or first-generation students—lack the resources, infrastructure, and partnerships to fully participate meaningfully in AI research and workforce development. These gaps limit innovation and exclude talented students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in STEM fields.
“As Artificial Intelligence rapidly transforms our economy and society, Congress must ensure that working Americans and communities across the country can participate in, and benefit from the jobs and opportunities that AI creates,” said Rep. Foushee. “The Expanding AI Voices Act builds on bipartisan work I was proud to undertake alongside Congressman Nunn on the House AI Task Force by expanding access to AI education, research, and workforce pathways. This legislation will help unlock the tremendous STEM talent found at MSIs, HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and rural-serving institutions, including those in my home state of North Carolina—to foster a skilled workforce ready to take on the risks and benefits to society spurred by AI. I thank Congressman Nunn for joining me in introducing this bill, and I look forward to moving it through the House Science Committee and beyond.”
The Expanding AI Voices Act would strengthen U.S. capacity and workforce development in AI fields by expanding training and research resources across a wider range of institutions—prioritizing those in rural communities.
Specifically, the bill would:
- Codify and expand the National Science Foundation’s ExpandAI program to support AI capacity-building projects at under-resourced institutions.
- Prioritize participation by institutions not ranked in the top 100 for federal R&D spending, as well as Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
- Support workforce development through faculty recruitment, bridge programs for post-baccalaureate students, access to computing and data resources, and hands-on training workshops.
- Direct targeted outreach to expand participation by first-generation students and populations historically underrepresented in STEM.
“Google is proud to support the Expanding AI Voices Act, because building truly helpful AI and maintaining America’s competitive edge will require talent from every corner of the country,” said Anne Wall, U.S. Federal Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google. “This bipartisan bill is a vital step in strengthening the NSF to train the next generation of AI researchers and workers.”
“The pace of AI innovation is transforming industries, making skilled talent more important than ever. Yet today’s skills gap presents an obstacle to innovation and economic development,” said Lydia Logan, Vice President, Global Education and Workforce Development, IBM. “The bipartisan Expanding AI Voices Act takes an important step toward closing this gap by ensuring more students across a wide range of communities and institutions can participate in this transformation. IBM commends Rep. Foushee and Rep. Nunn for their leadership in helping prepare the next generation of U.S. workers.”
Text of the bill can be found here.
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