Obernolte, Khanna, McCormick, Auchincloss Introduce Bipartisan Cloud LAB Act

Representatives Jay Obernolte of California, Ro Khanna of California, Rich McCormick of Georgia and Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts introduced the Cloud Labs to Advance Biotechnology Act, or the Cloud LAB Act. The legislation directs the National Science Foundation to establish a national network of advanced, cloud-enabled laboratories capable of generating high-quality biological data through automated instrumentation. By giving researchers across the country remote access to cutting-edge tools and standardized data, the bill will help train next-generation AI models and accelerate breakthroughs in health care, agriculture, defense and advanced manufacturing. Obernolte said artificial intelligence is only as strong as the data it is trained on. To keep the United States the leader in AI-driven biotechnology, the country must invest in the infrastructure that empowers scientists, he said. The Cloud LAB Act will help ensure America remains at the forefront of innovation while incorporating strong safeguards for security and responsible research, according to Obernolte. Khanna said the infrastructure, data and tools are necessary to support cutting-edge AI research. Cloud labs will expand access to advanced biotechnology platforms, allowing researchers across the country to generate the high-quality data needed to power the next generation of AI-driven discoveries, he said. McCormick said the Cloud LAB Act represents the next generation of American research infrastructure. The bill accelerates discovery and expands access for researchers nationwide, according to McCormick. This legislation takes an important step in ensuring that the United States leads in both AI innovation and the data generation needed to power the technologies of the future, he said. Auchincloss said automating routine medical chemistry can help speed up experiments. Many companies, including in Massachusetts, are working on this, and public investment would complement those corporate efforts, he said. The goal is tighter feedback between ideas, experiments and results, according to Auchincloss. The bill establishes a phased pilot program to stand up at least five competitively awarded cloud labs nationwide. It creates an expert advisory board to guide data and security standards and requires annual reports to Congress to ensure transparency and accountability. The legislation promotes collaboration between academia, industry and federal research agencies to reduce duplication and maximize impact.