February 3, 2026
Senate Commerce Committee considers AI cloud labs legislation
Commerce Committee considers Fetterman-Budd bill creating six NSF-led cloud labs for AI research
Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced S.3468 on December 11, 2025. The bipartisan National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act creates up to six remotely accessible AI-enabled cloud labs through NSF.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman 
Ted Cruz (R-TX) convened executive session on February 3, 2026 to consider S.3468. Committee vote determines if bill advances to full Senate floor.
Cloud labs allow scientists to conduct experiments remotely 24/7 through computer programs controlling robots and instruments. Users log in remotely, access programs controlling lab tools, eliminating need for physical presence.
Carnegie Mellon University launched world's first university cloud lab in 2024 after six years development. The $40 million facility in Pittsburgh's Bakery Square houses 130+ instrument types and 200+ total instruments.
CMU cloud lab partnership with Emerald Cloud Lab created by CMU alumni Brian Frezza and DJ Kleinbaum. Facility combines specialist teams handling routine tasks with robots, vastly increasing research productivity.
High cost of building and maintaining labs creates barriers for smaller institutions and small businesses. National PCL network allows fee-paying users to remotely access lab space instead of building their own.
NSF CloudBank 2.0 already supports 500 research projects annually over five years. Led by UC San Diego in partnership with UC Berkeley and University of Washington, collaborates with AWS, Google Cloud, IBM, Microsoft Azure, NVIDIA.
CloudBank 2.0 prioritizes institutions with limited resources like community colleges and smaller universities. Many struggle to provide computing infrastructure needed for scientific research and AI efforts.
NAIRR pilot generated tremendous demand from underserved institutions and research communities. Offers computing time, models, data, education tools to expand AI research access nationwide.
S.3468 endorsed by SeedAI, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and Carnegie Mellon University. Bipartisan support emphasizes scientific innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.
NSF Programmable Cloud Laboratories initiative focuses initially on biotechnology and materials science. Network enables remotely accessed labs running custom, user-programmed AI-enabled workflows.
People, bills, and sources
John Fetterman
Senator (D-PA)
Ted Budd
Senator (R-NC)
Ted Cruz
Senator (R-TX), Commerce Committee Chairman
National Science Foundation
Federal research agency
Carnegie Mellon University
University research institution
Emerald Cloud Lab
Private cloud lab operator
SeedAI
AI policy organization
Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Pittsburgh economic development organization
What you can do
1
civic action
Contact Senate Commerce Committee members supporting S.3468
Urge your senators to support S.3468, especially if they serve on Commerce Committee. Emphasize how cloud labs level the playing field for universities with limited resources, allowing remote 24/7 experiment access without building costly facilities.
See committee website for member contacts
My name is [Name] from [City, State]. I urge Senator [Name] to support S.3468, the National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act. This bipartisan bill democratizes scientific research by letting smaller universities and community colleges access advanced equipment remotely. I want NSF to lead this six-lab network so researchers outside elite institutions can conduct cutting-edge experiments.
2
civic action
Support organizations expanding AI research access to underserved communities
Donate to or volunteer with organizations providing AI education access to underrepresented groups. Cloud labs expand who can conduct advanced research, but only if students from all backgrounds learn to use remote lab tools.
info@ai4all.org
My name is [Name] and I want to support AI4ALL's work democratizing AI education. With S.3468 creating national cloud lab network, I want to ensure underrepresented students can access these remotely controlled research facilities and participate in AI-driven scientific discovery.
3
understanding
Learn about cloud lab career opportunities in your region
Research career paths in cloud labs, automated research, and AI-driven experimentation. CMU's $40 million cloud lab employs specialists handling routine tasks, robotics engineers, and data analysts. National expansion creates jobs.
info@cs.cmu.edu
I want to learn about career opportunities in cloud labs and automated research facilities. How can I gain skills in remote experiment design, robotics programming, or AI-enabled lab workflows?
4
civic action
Advocate for transparency in NSF cloud lab site selection process
Push NSF to use transparent, merit-based criteria when selecting cloud lab locations. If bill passes, site selection determines which regions benefit economically and which institutions gain research advantages.
info@nsf.gov
My name is [Name] from [City, State]. When NSF selects sites for six national cloud labs under S.3468, I urge you to publish clear criteria and prioritize geographic diversity. Communities beyond major research hubs deserve access to this infrastructure.
5
understanding
Monitor how community colleges use CloudBank 2.0 resources
Track how NSF CloudBank 2.0 serves community colleges and smaller universities. This $20M program supporting 500 projects annually reveals whether institutions with limited resources can effectively use remote research infrastructure.
support@cloudbank.org
I want to understand how community colleges are using CloudBank 2.0 resources for AI research. Are these institutions building capacity to eventually use national cloud lab network?