Senate Commerce Committee advances National AI Cloud Laboratories Network Act

The Senate Commerce Committee advanced the National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act on February 13, 2026, sending it to the Senate floor with bipartisan support from Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and John Fetterman (D-PA). The bill directs the National Science Foundation to create a network of six remotely accessible programmable cloud laboratory nodes for academic researchers and small businesses, reducing infrastructure barriers for institutions without large endowments. The legislation aligned with the Trump administration's AI Action Plan.