Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act of 2026

(a) In general. The Director of the National Science Foundation, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is authorized to award grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, institutions of higher education and nonprofit research organizations, or consortia thereof, to conduct research on—

(1) the environmental and public health impacts of infrastructure related to artificial intelligence on covered communities, including such communities that include underserved communities.

(2) the effects of the siting of infrastructure related to artificial intelligence on—

(A) local labor markets, including displacement of existing industries or land uses; and

(B) the availability and cost of water, energy, land and other natural resources for uses unrelated to artificial intelligence or infrastructure related to artificial intelligence; and

(3) environmental justice considerations associated with the siting of infrastructure related to artificial intelligence.

(b) Purpose. Research conducted using a grant or cooperative agreement under this section shall be diagnostic or evaluative in nature and may not be used to design, optimize, or improve the operational efficiency of infrastructure related to artificial intelligence.

(c) Priority. In awarding grants and entering into cooperative agreements under this section, the Director shall give priority to research proposals focused on a covered community that includes an underserved community, as determined by the Director.

(d) Dissemination. The Director of the National Science Foundation shall make research findings supported under this section available to Centers established under section 107, consistent with the requirements of section 6.

(e) Compliance. Each recipient of a grant or cooperative agreement under this section shall be subject to the requirements under section 6.