Van Hollen, Murkowski, Foster Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Create National Fab Lab Network, Spur Innovation

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-Ill.) have reintroduced the National Fab Lab Network Act, bipartisan legislation to expand Fab Labs across the country. Fab Lab facilities provide access to and training with digitally-controlled tools, such as laser cutters, 3D printers, and automated knives, enabling individuals to create and innovate new products. The legislation creates a nonprofit organization to serve as a central funding source for Fab Labs across the country and to help foster public-private partnerships to create more Fab Labs. This network would encourage the growth and expansion of new and current Fab Labs and help more innovators access these resources to support America’s advanced manufacturing and workforce development.

“Just like the creation of the public library system opened the world of knowledge to every American, so will Fab Labs provide all enterprising minds with the tools they need to turn creative ideas into reality. Developing a national network of Fab Labs will open the doors of innovation wider and unleash the creative potential of every American,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Fab Labs are spaces that build community and cultivate local innovation in science and technology. In Alaska, we know that when we give students and entrepreneurs resources, they solve problems, think critically, and bring their ideas to life,” Senator Murkowski said. “I am proud to join Senator Van Hollen in reintroducing the National Fab Lab Network Act, because I believe that these state-of-the-art facilities are key to the success in the 21^st century, and it is essential that we make them more accessible around the country.”

"Fab Labs are an excellent way to give students of all ages an opportunity to explore STEM fields in an interactive way, encouraging new ideas through curiosity and creativity," Congressman Foster said. "New ideas become the innovations that are vital to economic growth in our country. A National Fab Lab Network will help expose more Americans of all backgrounds to STEM, which will help our nation stay at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation."

This past March, Senator Van Hollen was proud to announce $2,000,000 he secured for Open Works to expand its makerspace, which includes a Fab Lab, and educational programming to West Baltimore as part of a partnership with Coppin State University. This will bring the total number of Fab Labs in Maryland up to seven, including the first Open Works Fab Lab located on Greenmount Avenue in East Baltimore, Fab Lab Baltimore in Baltimore City, the Community College of Baltimore County Fab Lab in Catonsville, Bullis BITlab in Potomac, St. James Fab Lab in Hagerstown, and the Maryland NanoCenter Fab Lab in College Park. Alaska is home to CITC Fab Lab in Anchorage, and Illinois is also home to several Fab Labs. Overall, there are currently over 282 Fab Labs across the United States.

The National Fab Lab Network Act would create a nonprofit organization consisting of a national network of local Fab Labs, or digital fabrication laboratories, to provide universal access to advanced manufacturing tools for workforce development, education, and entrepreneurship. The goal of the Network would be to establish at least one Fab Lab for every 700,000 people, or roughly one lab in every Congressional district. A copy of the legislation can be found here.