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S. 3468: National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act of 2025

119th Congress · introduced 2025-12-11 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 451.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act of 2025

Plain summary

National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act of 2025 This bill provides statutory authority for a national programmable cloud laboratories program established by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Programmable cloud laboratories allow researchers to remotely design and run experiments in an automated, artificial-intelligence-enabled laboratory. Under the bill, NSF, in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), must designate up to six entities to operate cloud laboratories, called nodes, to comprise a national network. Eligible entities include institutions of higher education, private or nonprofit research entities, and groups thereof. In designating nodes, NSF must ensure, to the extent practicable, that at least one node can support biotechnology research. (On July 16, 2025, NSF issued a program solicitation seeking applicants to serve as nodes.) Designated nodes must provide access to advanced scientific and manufacturing instruments and a secure digital infrastructure. Where practicable, nodes must leverage commercially available hardware and software to minimize cost and accelerate deployment of automated capabilities. NIST, in cooperation with NSF and designated nodes, must establish and periodically update network-wide interoperability standards, data-sharing protocols, and minimum technical requirements and operating procedures. Further, after all nodes are designated, NSF must identify other laboratories that have or are developing programmable, automated, or remotely accessible research infrastructure and assess the potential for coordination between nodes and these laboratories. The bill provides for annual grants to each designated node for up to five years. The program and any associated funding terminate on September 30, 2031.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act of 2025

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] · 1 cosponsors

Money: CBO cost estimate: S. 3468, National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act of 2025 (2026-07-08) No linked contracts or vendors yet.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Statute
A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-s3468 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills