The Literacy in Future Technologies Artificial Intelligence (LIFT AI) Act, H.R.5584, was reintroduced in the 119th Congress by Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Tom Kean (R-NJ). The bill authorises the NSF Director to make competitive, merit-reviewed grants to institutions of higher education and nonprofit organisations for research and development of AI literacy curricula, instructional materials, teacher professional development, and evaluation methods at the K-12 level.
The bill defines AI literacy as age-appropriate knowledge and ability to use AI effectively, critically interpret outputs, solve problems in an AI-enabled world, and mitigate potential risks. A previous version passed the House Science, Space and Technology Committee in September 2024 but did not reach a floor vote in the 118th Congress.
The LIFT AI Act is endorsed by the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Who it affects: K-12 students and educators nationally, though through a grant mechanism rather than a mandate. The bill does not require states or districts to adopt AI curricula; it funds development of materials and teacher training that states may choose to adopt.
What is notably missing: The bill does not mandate AI literacy instruction, set minimum standards for curricula, or establish a timeline for nationwide adoption. It is a funding and research authorisation, not a curriculum requirement.