Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act of 2026
Creates AI education and workforce programs, while setting safeguards for student data and AI use in federally funded activities.
In three House committees since Sept. 21, 2026, 15 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 21, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Artificial intelligence is changing how people learn and do their jobs. This bill would create federal education and workforce programs to teach AI skills and prepare people for AI-related career changes. It would also set privacy and human-oversight protections for covered activities and address equitable access and AI's environmental effects.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Set safeguards for federally funded AI activities
Recipients of funding under the bill would have to follow a federal AI risk-management framework, evaluate and publish findings about their work, and give students and families information and an opt-out opportunity when certain AI tools affect learning. They would also have to protect student data, report covered breaches within 72 hours, and could not use personally identifiable student data for unrelated commercial purposes.
- Fund AI education and training pathways
Education grants would support career pathways that teach AI literacy and governance alongside humanities and social sciences, include paid work-based learning, and lead to a recognized credential. Other programs would support stackable micro-credentials, school-leader training, education research, and regional research centers.
- Coordinate workforce planning and reskilling
The Labor Department would develop a national AI workforce strategy examining AI's effects on jobs and gaps in labor-market data.
- Expand access to AI education and careers
The bill includes grant programs and other initiatives on equitable access to AI education, support for minority-serving institutions, career equity, and mentorship in AI-augmented occupations. The section headings identify these topics but do not provide their program details here.
- Address AI's environmental effects
The bill includes workforce development, research, community transparency, and measurement standards related to AI's environmental impacts. The section headings identify these topics but do not provide further details here.
The bill cites concerns about AI's effects on education, jobs, access to opportunity, and student and worker privacy. It would respond with federal training and research programs, safeguards for funded activities, and initiatives addressing equitable access and environmental impacts.
Written from an excerpt of the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 21, 2026HOUSESEP 21, 2026By Rep. Bonamici with 7 original cosponsorsReferred to Education and Workforce, Science, Space, and Technology and Ways and Means
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeesSEP 21, 2026EDUCATION & WORKFORCE · SCIENCE, SPACE, & TECHNOLOGY +1 NOWSEP 21, 2026In committee for 15 daysNo hearing yet
- 15 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 212026SEP 21, 2026REFERREDReferred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- SEP 212026SEP 21, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 15, this bill is already older than 4% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
A coalition from 7 states
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Rep. Bonamici’s record: sponsored 68 bills this Congress. 1 passed the House; 0 became law.
- Valerie P. FousheeD-NC-4ORIGINAL
- Josh GottheimerD-NJ-5ORIGINAL
- Raja KrishnamoorthiD-IL-8ORIGINAL
- Ted LieuD-CA-36ORIGINAL
- Jimmy PanettaD-CA-19ORIGINAL
- Bennie G. ThompsonD-MS-2ORIGINAL
- Frederica S. WilsonD-FL-24ORIGINAL
- Greg LandsmanD-OH-1SEP 24, 2026
What readers think
Discussion
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