A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the National Fab Lab Network, which is a nonprofit corporation. The network aims to create a national system of local digital fabrication facilities. These facilities are designed to provide universal access to advanced manufacturing tools. The goal is to support workforce development, STEM education, and the creation of businesses and inventions. The network seeks to establish at least one lab in every Congressional District, with a priority on underserved communities.
Yes· 3 of 14
- Scored +6
Would students be better off under this?
The network provides specific platforms for STEM education and skill development.
- Scored +6
Is this likely to create jobs?
The bill explicitly aims to create businesses and jobs through the establishment of the National Fab Lab Network.
- Scored +5
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
The emphasis on STEM and 21st-century workforce skills directly benefits young people entering the labor market.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Universal Access to Technology: The bill aims to provide universal access to digital fabrication tools, which allows individuals to create various goods such as personal technology and household items (Section 2, Section 3(a)).
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Workforce and Economic Growth: The network is intended to align workforce development with new jobs, foster entrepreneurship, and help create businesses and jobs (Section 3(c)(1)).
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Educational Advancement: The labs are designed to promote skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), providing a platform for new methods of education (Section 3(c)(1)).
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Community Empowerment: By seeking to establish a lab in each Congressional District and prioritizing underserved communities, the bill intends to empower individuals and communities through local access to manufacturing (Section 3(c)(1), Section 3(c)(2)).
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Increased Self-Sufficiency: The use of distributed digital fabrication tools is intended to increase self-sufficiency for individuals, households, and communities (Section 3(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Risk of Digital Fabrication: The bill acknowledges that there are risks associated with digital fabrication that the corporation must develop processes and methods to mitigate (Section 3(f)(10)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — The network provides specific platforms for STEM education and skill development. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill aims to foster entrepreneurship and provide tools for creating new businesses. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The emphasis on STEM and 21st-century workforce skills directly benefits young people entering the labor market. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes underserved communities to provide universal access to manufacturing tools. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill's board of directors is required to include representation from Tribal communities. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The goal of one lab per congressional district aims to provide regional capacity building. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill aims to empower communities through local access to digital fabrication.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill explicitly aims to create businesses and jobs through the establishment of the National Fab Lab Network. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The network is designed to foster entrepreneurship and assist in creating businesses through access to manufacturing tools.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill establishes a network to provide a platform for research and advancements in science and technology. Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill provides a platform for new methods of STEM education through the fab lab network.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill seeks to establish labs in every congressional district to provide regional capacity building.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill seeks to empower underserved communities through access to digital fabrication and workforce development.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill notes that scientific and technical innovations are critical to national security.
- 6/25/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
- Introduced in House
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.