H.R. 7158 — Expanding AI Voices Act

This section establishes a competitive, merit-reviewed grant program at the National Science Foundation (NSF), in consultation with other federal agency heads, to broaden participation in artificial intelligence (AI) research, education, and workforce development by building capacity and partnerships at eligible institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations (or consortia thereof), including those not among the top 100 recipients of federal R&D expenditures (per National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics data over the prior three years), historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs), minority-serving institutions (MSIs), Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), or consortia thereof. Awards support (1) development or expansion of AI research programs; (2) faculty recruitment and professional development; (3) bridge programs for post-baccalaureate students entering AI graduate programs; (4) access to research resources such as computing and data facilities; (5) public-private collaboration and community building; (6) intra- or inter-institutional workshops; (7) integration of ethical AI practices into education; and (8) other capacity-building activities. NSF must conduct outreach to eligible entities (especially from underserved communities and regions), ensure awards complement rather than duplicate existing programs, and prioritize diversity support, geographic diversity, and resource constraints; awardees may partner with AI research institutes established under the National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes program (15 U.S.C. 9431). (Thus, the program promotes AI innovation ecosystems at underrepresented institutions to enhance U.S. competitiveness.)