December 1: This week in AI federal policy
DC/ai Decoded: A weekly newsletter on artificial intelligence federal policy
This week decoded
This week in AI federal policy, Congressional proponents of a state AI moratorium are reportedly working on a plan to connect the provision with a number of children’s online safety bills and attach the combined package to the must-pass year-end National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order launching the Genesis Mission, an effort to use artificial intelligence to transform how scientific research is conducted and accelerate scientific discovery. The USPTO rescinded and replaced guidance on AI-assisted inventions.
Read more below
Congress
Hearings
Last week
Congress was in recess for the Thanksgiving holiday.
This week
On December 2, the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy Subcommittee holds a hearing on Countering China’s Challenge to American AI Leadership.
Upcoming
On December 10, the House Financial Services Committee holds a hearing on From Principles to Policy: Enabling 21st Century AI Innovation in Financial Services.
On December 17, the House Homeland Security holds a Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee and Oversight, Investigations and Accountability Subcommittee holds a hearing following a report about an AI-assisted, partially autonomous cyberattack against the U.S. company Anthropic by a state-sponsored cyber actor backed by China.
Legislation
Reps. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Neal Dunn (R-FL) introduced the AI Fraud Deterrence Act to increase penalties for the commission of financial crimes using artificial intelligence. (Text)
Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) introduced the AI for America Act to codify a national strategy for artificial intelligence that promotes American leadership, removes regulatory barriers, and ensures data are free from security risks and ideological bias. (Text)
Reps. John Joyce (R-PA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Angie Craig (D-MN) introduced the Health Tech Investment Act to assign all U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved artificial intelligence-enabled devices to a New Technology Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) in the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) for a minimum of five years to ensure that necessary data surrounding delivery and service costs is acquired before a permanent payment code is assigned. (Press release)
Del. Jim Moylan (R-GU) and Reps. Eugene Vindman (D-VA) and Bill Huizenga (R-MI) introduced a bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to submit a report annually on the advanced artificial intelligence capabilities of the People’s Republic of China. (Text)
Correspondence
Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) Ted Lieu (D-CA), April McClain Delaney (D-MD), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Don Beyer (D-VA) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) led a group of 81 lawmakers in sending a letter to congressional leadership opposing any effort to reintroduce a moratorium on state and local artificial intelligence laws in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). (Letter)
House Committee on Homeland Security Chair Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Chair Andy Ogles (R-TN), and Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Chair Josh Brecheen (R-OK) sent letters to Anthropic, Google, and Quantum Xchange, requesting their testimony at a joint subcommittee hearing following reports of AI-assisted, partially autonomous PRC cyber operation, currently scheduled for December 17. (Anthropic letter)(Google letter)(Quantum Xchange letter)
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Yvette Clarke (D-NY) wrote to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) requesting it disperse Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD) funding as intended by Congress. (Letter)
Publications and Events
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) published an op-ed in the Washington Reporter on To Win the Global AI Race, We Must Secure our Optical Transceivers and Prioritize American-Made Components, concluding, “So while the immense national security risk of compromised transceivers looms large over our efforts to win the global AI race, it also presents a pivotal moment for us to protect our infrastructure, decrease our reliance on foreign technology, and bring manufacturing back to U.S. soil. The directive report language in the FY26 House National Defense Authorization Act must be the first step, not the last. By securing our AI infrastructure, we can secure American AI superiority for generations to come.” (Op-ed)
Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) published an op-ed in Breitbart on Protecting Children While Keeping AI Innovation on Track, saying, “At the end of the day, protecting children is not a partisan issue. It is a responsibility we share as parents and policymakers. Just as we buckle our kids into car seats or require safety standards for toys, we must ensure that the digital tools they use are safe and age appropriate.” (Op-ed)
Trump Administration
White House
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order launching the Genesis Mission, an effort to use artificial intelligence to transform how scientific research is conducted and accelerate scientific discovery. The Genesis Mission charges the Secretary of Energy to leverage the National Laboratories to establish a cooperative system for research, directs the Department of Energy to create a closed-loop AI experimentation platform that integrates supercomputers and data assets to generate scientific foundation models and power robotic laboratories, and instructs the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST) to coordinate the initiative and integration of data and infrastructure from across the Federal government. (EO)(Fact sheet)
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
The USPTO has rescinded guidance issued on February 13, 2024 on inventorship guidance for AI-assisted inventions and has replaced it with new Inventorship Guidance for AI-Assisted Inventions. (Federal Register)
Department of Energy (DOE)
DOE announced a restructuring plan to include a new Office of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum (AIQ) and Office of Fusion (OF). (Org chart)(Fedscoop)
Noteworthy Quotes and Events
ADMINISTRATION
White House
The White House posted “President Donald J. Trump launches the GENESIS MISSION - a national effort to accelerate scientific breakthroughs using AI and propel America into the GOLDEN AGE OF INNOVATION.”
White House AI & Crypto Czar David Sacks posted “AI should be politically unbiased and strive for the truth. Still a lot of work to do.”
Department of Energy (DOE)
The Department of Energy posted “Genesis Mission has arrived. The world’s most powerful scientific platform to ever be built has launched. This Manhattan-Project-level leap will fundamentally transform the future of American science and innovation.”
Secretary Chris Wright posted “The Genesis Mission is going to bring together industry, @ENERGY’s National Labs, and data sets all tied together in a closed loop system to rapidly advance the pace of scientific and engineering progress. It will be transformative.”
CONGRESS
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) posted “I led 81 House lawmakers in opposing any attempt to reintroduce a moratorium on state and local AI laws in the NDAA or by executive order. People deserve transparency, trust, and protection. We cannot handcuff states without any real federal safeguards. We can lead the world in AI and protect our communities. That’s the future I’m fighting for.”
Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) posted “For decades, America has defined global innovation. The GENESIS Mission is critical to keeping America ahead of the curve and solidifying our leadership in AI against growing threats from Communist China.”
House Homeland Security GOP posted “After Anthropic released a report detailing a nation-state actor’s use of AI to conduct a semi-automated cyberattack, RepGarbarino, RepOgles, & RepBrecheenare requesting testimony from industry to determine how the U.S. can keep pace with threats”
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) posted “AI has made it easier for scammers to take advantage of people. We need to implement sensible guardrails on the ways AI can be used to cause harm. That’s why we introduced the bipartisan AI Fraud Deterrence Act to combat fraud committed with AI.”
Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) posted “As AI technology advances at a rapid pace, our laws must keep up. I am proud to co-lead this legislation to protect the identities of the public and prevent misuse of this innovative technology.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) posted “Republicans are trying to sneak a provision into the annual defense spending bill to block states from passing AI regulations — a direct ask from Big Tech lobbyists who only care about their own profits, not your safety. It’s a ridiculous proposal.”
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) posted “To win the global AI race, we must secure our optical transceivers and prioritize American-made components. By securing our AI infrastructure, we can secure American AI superiority for generations to come. Read my latest op-ed in the DC_Reporter”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) posted “Please watch this. The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill. You need to know this, so you can help stop it.”
Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA) posted “Social media and tech companies are having a negative impact on our children’s mental health. Now, AI chatbots are exacerbating this growing crisis. I’ll continue my work in Congress to address this issue and keep our kids safe online.”
House Science Committee posted “President Trump just launched the Genesis Mission—a bold national effort led by ENERGY to harness AI, supercomputing, and quantum science. It will mobilize DOE labs, industry, and academia to build the most powerful scientific platform ever created.”
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) posted “The Genesis Mission will utilize our National Labs, including ORNL in TN03, to lead the AI revolution and secure America’s global scientific preeminence. This will transform energy security, scientific discovery, and national defense! American scientific leadership is back!”
Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) posted “The U.S. must win the AI Race against China, but it cannot do so without access to abundant and affordable energy. Liquid cooling of IT equipment at data centers and other advancements can ease electrical grid strain and help lower costs for consumers.”
Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) posted “Great to see POTUS champion American AI dominance! This will help unleash American innovation!”
Energy and Commerce Committee posted “President Trump’s executive order launching the Genesis Mission is exactly what America needs right now. The Genesis Mission will bring the best of America’s best together to develop an AI platform that will strengthen our national security, bolster energy dominance, and enhance workforce productivity. This aligns with HouseCommerce’s work to help America to lead the world in AI innovation and deployment.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) posted “Trump and House Republicans are pushing to ban states’ ability to place safety guardrails on AI. That could be disastrous for your: —Kids’ safety online —Data privacy —Energy bill But it would be good for: —Big Tech Trump’s priorities. Not yours.”
Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL) posted “NRDems are standing united as we fight to stop Trump’s ban on clean energy projects. As electricity rates rise due to AI and data centers, we need all the energy solutions, including wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, and natural gas, to ensure lower energy costs.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) posted “Today there is a new danger on the toy market—AI. This harmless looking teddy bear actually has an AI chatbot embedded inside. With this tech kids can engage in conversations with their toys that are intimate, inappropriate & deeply dangerous.”
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) posted “From chatbots giving inaccurate medical advice to fostering suicidal thoughts, we’re seeing every day how dangerous AI can be without regulation. But once again, Trump is siding with the tech billionaires who are funding his ballroom instead of American families and children.”
Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) posted “’AI is here to stay, and it will shape the future our kids inherit. Let’s make sure that future is one where technology serves families, not the other way around. With thoughtful leadership and a clear commitment to protecting children, we can embrace innovation while keeping kids safe. That is the mission driving my work on this issue, and it will remain one of my highest priorities in Congress.’”
House Foreign Affairs Committee posted “China’s plan is to steal U.S. technology to win the AI arms race. We can’t let that happen. The Chip Security Act will increase visibility of the location of advanced chips worldwide to prevent smuggling.”
What I’m Reading This Week
Republicans Have an A.I. Plan. Democrats, Not So Much, David Byler, The New York Times
How the U.S. Economy Became Hooked on AI Spending, Konrad Putzier, The Wall Street Journal
Trump Allies Urge Focus on Workers as White House Boosts AI Development, The Washington Post.
The Fed Is Fixated on AI — But Not Ready to Make a Greenspan-Size Bet, Bloomberg.