Senate Commerce Committee considers AI cloud labs legislation

On Feb. 3, 2026, the Senate Commerce Committee held an executive session on S.3468, the National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act. Introduced Dec. 11, 2025, by Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Ted Budd (R-NC), the bipartisan bill would create up to six remotely accessible AI-enabled cloud labs through the National Science Foundation. The bill responds to Trump's AI Action Plan calling for "automated cloud-enabled labs." Carnegie Mellon University launched the world's first university cloud lab in Spring 2024—a $40 million automated facility modeled after a startup founded by two CMU alumni. The bill aims to cut research costs and expand access to advanced robotics and automated manufacturing for universities, nonprofits, and private research entities.