Amo Celebrates Committee Passage of Bipartisan AI Literacy Bill

LIFT AI Act would support research and integrate artificial intelligence curricula into K-12 classrooms

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology passed H.R. 9211, the Literacy in Future Technologies (LIFT) Artificial Intelligence Act, which is co-led by Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) and Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07). The bipartisan bill would improve artificial intelligence literacy for K-12 students.

“The bipartisan LIFT AI Act is about helping the next generation of students be prepared by making sure that they have skills to use artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively, regardless of the career they decide to pursue,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “I thank Congressman Kean for his leadership and my colleagues on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology who voted to advance this legislation today. I look forward to pushing together for it to be passed in the full House of Representatives.”  

“Early childhood understanding of AI will have positive spillover impacts in our everyday life, work productivity, and social circles,” said Congressman Kean. “Proficient understanding of AI will mitigate negative impacts of this technology, specifically in the AI generated content space. To ensure our children succeed in the field of artificial intelligence, we need to start preparing them early in the classroom. I thank my colleagues on the Science, Space and Technology Committee for supporting my bill and look forward to seeing this on the House Floor.”  

Watch Congressman Amo’s remarks at today’s full committee markup HERE.

The LIFT AI Act would:  

• Support a grant program within National Science Foundation for research and development of AI literacy curriculum and evaluation methods for K-12, ensuring that educational materials are learner-centered, project based, and adaptable. 
• Support professional learning opportunities for educators, principals, and school leaders to enhance their AI literacy and proficiency through courses, mentoring, and best practice development. 
• Promote the creation of hands-on learning tools, the integration of AI literacy into existing curriculums, and the development of evaluation tools to assess AI literacy proficiency.  

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.  

Congressman Amo currently serves on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Committee.  

This legislation is supported by the STEM Education Coalition, Code.org, AI&You, Information Technology Industry Council, IBM, Google Public Policy, and Common Sense Media.

FULL HEARING REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

Thank you, Chairman Lucas, for holding today’s markup.

I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan, H.R. 9211, the Literacy in Future Technologies Artificial Intelligence, or LIFT AI, Act. I’m proud to co-lead this critical legislation with New Jersey Representative Tom Kean.

As we all know, AI isn’t far off in the future. It’s here. It’s now. And, it’s having an impact on our school systems and educators.

Last month, I hosted a roundtable at Smithfield High School on their first day back from summer break.

Smithfield’s enrollment is just shy of 750 students. But it was clear that both students and educators are using AI inside and outside of the classroom in our community.

We have to teach students — even young students — how to effectively and responsibly use it so we can harness the power of artificial intelligence for good.

You shouldn’t have to wait until college or your first job to learn about artificial intelligence. Delaying this digital education can prevent you from entering those spaces in the first place.

I’m proud to co-lead the LIFT AI Act to direct the National Science Foundation, or NSF, to support research and development activities related to AI literacy.

Our bill would encourage the creation of AI literacy curricula focused on core competencies and abilities and authorize the development of related evaluation tools, professional development courses, and hands-on learning tools.

Moreover, our bill would authorize the NSF to engage state and local agencies, principals, educators, and other school leaders to help develop best practices and enhance artificial intelligence literacy across the country.

I’m proud to work in a bipartisan manner with Rep. Tom Kean. We need to invest in — and expand — artificial intelligence literacy and education in the classroom.

Our LIFT AI Act would make sure the next generation of students have the skills needed to responsibly use this technology, regardless of the career they decide to pursue.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill and I yield back.

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