What This Bill Does · Plain English
GovGreed Synthesis · AI extraction
This bill establishes a grant program within the Department of Homeland Security to fund the development of secure artificial intelligence (AI) cyber-physical testbeds. These testbeds are intended to simulate grid-scale cyberattacks and safely train AI models for defense. The program is authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and requires annual progress reports to Congress.
Carveouts & Earmarks · 2 line items · $100M tagged
Specific dollar amounts in this bill that flow to identifiable companies or programs — the actual cash trail.
$100M
Sec.2
"There is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to make grants under subsection (a)."
→ Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Homeland Security
—
Sec.2
"the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall jointly establish a grant program to provide awards for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to eligible entities to develop secure artificial intelligence (AI) cyber-physical testbeds to simulate grid-scale cyberattacks and train AI models safely."
→ eligible entities
Action Timeline
2026-02-25
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
2026-02-25
Introduced in House
2026-02-25
Introduced in House
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.7696 pass?
HR.7696 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does HR.7696 do?
This bill establishes a grant program within the Department of Homeland Security to fund the development of secure artificial intelligence (AI) cyber-physical testbeds. These testbeds are intended to simulate grid-scale cyberattacks and safely train AI models for defense. The program is authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and requires annual progress reports to Congress.
Who sponsored HR.7696?
HR.7696 was sponsored by Pablo Jose Hernández (D-Puerto Rico).
How much money does HR.7696 spend?
HR.7696 contains $100M in identified line-item carveouts to specific programs and companies, across 2 earmarks.
Full Bill Text
119 HR 7696 IH: AI Cyber Grid Protection Resilient Development Act of 2026 U.S. House of Representatives 2026-02-25 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7696 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 25, 2026 Mr. Hernández (for himself, Mr. Liccardo , and Mrs. Grijalva ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To establish a grant program to provide awards to National Laboratories and institutions of higher education to develop secure artificial intelligence (AI) cyber-physical testbeds to simulate grid-scale cyberattacks, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the AI Cyber Grid Protection Resilient Development Act of 2026 . 2. Grant program to secure artificial intelligence (AI) cyber-physical testbeds to simulate grid-scale cyberattacks (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall jointly establish a grant program to provide awards for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to eligible entities to develop secure artificial intelligence (AI) cyber-physical testbeds to simulate grid-scale cyberattacks and train AI models safely. (b) Reports Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter through 2031, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall jointly submit to Congress a report detailing evolving threats, AI mitigation progress, and recommendations for further legislative or regulatory action relating to grid-scale cyberattacks. (c) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to make grants under subsection (a). (d) Definitions In this section: (1) AI; artificial intelligence The terms AI and artificial intelligence have the meaning given the term artificial intelligence in section 238(g) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 ( Public Law 115–232 ). (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means any of the following: (A) An institution of higher education (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) )), including any of the following: (i) A public college or university. (ii) A community college. (iii) A Hispanic-serving institution (as such term is defined in section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1101a )). (B) A National Laboratory (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15801 )). (C) A consortium comprised of one or more entities specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
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