This week decoded
Driving the week in AI federal policy, Congress turns its focus on national security, cybersecurity, safety, and agentic AI. Calls continue for an independent global authority on AI and for congressional committees dedicated to artificial intelligence. U.S.-China talks drew plenty of reaction on the Hill.
After President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House pointed to several agreements reached during talks, including replacing the term “artificial intelligence” with “super intelligence” and launching a Super Intelligence Dialogue for the two countries to exchange views.
The CDC issued a request for information on how data intermediaries could support public health data exchange.
Read more below
Congress
Hearings
Last week
On September 23, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism held a hearing on “Always Watching: Flock’s Nationwide AI Surveillance Network.”
This week
On September 30, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Management, District of Columbia, and Census holds a hearing on “Rogue AI: Securing the Homeland Against AI Agent Attacks.”
Legislation
The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a series of bills, including the AI For Secure Networks Act.
Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management and Security Act to establish enforceable safety and security standards for the most advanced artificial intelligence systems. (Text)
Sens. Dave McCormick (R-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), John Cornyn (R-TX), and John Fetterman (D-PA) introduced the Securing National Security Systems from Chinese Optical Transceivers Act to prevent Chinese-made optical transceivers from being used in the federal government’s most sensitive national security systems. (Press release)
Sens. James Lankford (R-OK), Chris Coons (D-DE), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the AI Systems Transparency Act (ASTA) to require AI companies to disclose to the public what data their models are collecting from users, the safeguards and guardrails they’ve implemented. (Text)
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Cybersecurity and AI Board of Investigations Act to establish an independent board to investigate major cybersecurity incidents impacting critical infrastructure, including those enabled by AI. (Text)
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Make AI Work for Americans Act to establishes an AI Horizon Fund as a dedicated federal trust fund to support American workers, funded by leading tech companies through taxes on excess profits, digital ad services, and AI usage. The Fund would be overseen by a 15-member Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council AI experts and representatives from labor, higher education, and workforce development. (Text)
Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act to stop AI oligarchs from building machines humans cannot control and to pause advanced AI development until the U.S. can put in place rigorous federal testing and oversight. (Text)
Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the AI Regulator Act to require pre-certification for frontier AI models, delay the public release of any AI model that could pose catastrophic risks without necessary safeguards, issue formal rulemakings to set guardrails that keep pace with the speed of innovation, conduct investigations, engage in research, and impose penalties. (Press release)
Reps. Tom Barrett (R-MI), Greg Landsman (D-OH), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) introduced the No Secrets for Data Centers Act to prohibit non-disclosure agreements by government officials to conceal details of data center projects from the public. (Text)
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) introduced the Facilitating Liberty and Accountability for Flock Observations (FLAFO) Act to prohibit federal agencies from purchasing, leasing, operating, accessing, or sharing data with networked Automated License Plate Reader surveillance systems without a judicial warrant. (Text)
Rep. Tom Kean (D-NJ) introduced the AI Emergency Button Act to require artificial intelligence developers to install an emergency kill switch. (Press release)
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced the American Copyright Protection Act to allow copyright owners to seek a federal court determination that a foreign website is engaged in copyright piracy and petition the court to require internet service providers to take commercially reasonable steps to prevent access to the site in the United States. (Text)
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced the Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act to require AI risk assessment standards for classroom technology, safeguards against harmful content, parental notice and opt-out rights, human review of automated decisions in federally funded workforce programs, and a secure student data breach reporting portal; create strict safety compliance requirements, prohibit model developers from directing school instructional content or requiring exclusive use of their AI product; and require data center operators to disclose pre-construction energy and water consumption projections and actual operational consumption. (Text)
Sens. Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) reintroduced the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act to prohibit the government from using facial recognition and other biometric technologies. (Text)
Correspondence
Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Chris Coons (D-DE), sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton urging an investigation into reported failures involving the use of artificial intelligence in U.S. military and intelligence operations and provide relevant Inspectors General with unrestricted access to examine the incidents. (Letter)
Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) sent a letter to National Security Advisor Marco Rubio calling on the National Security Council to convene recurring discussions between federal officials, leading artificial intelligence developers, cybersecurity experts, researchers, and critical infrastructure representatives to identify and address emerging national security threats posed by advanced AI systems. (Letter)
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 16 Senate Democrats in a letter to President Trump urging the President to negotiate a formal agreement between the U.S. and China on guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of frontier Artificial Intelligence models with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The letter also urges Trump to consider enacting a mutual pause in frontier AI development. (Letter)
Members of the bipartisan Congressional Working Group on Artificial Intelligence and Evolving Technologies sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging the Administration to lead international efforts to establish clear standards for the safe and secure development of advanced artificial intelligence. (Letter)
Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urging they establish a bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence. (Letter)
Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) led 14 House Democrats in sending a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum requesting information on the Department’s reported plans to allow construction of data center projects on federal public lands. (Letter)
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio providing a strategy for AI safety collaboration with China, including a global pause on AI recursive self-improvement and superintelligence and require AI models to be audited before release, creation of an international inspection agency or nongovernmental organization for verification. (Axios)
Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche urging the Department of Justice to provide state and local law enforcement agencies with guidance on how to prevent the misuse of automatic license plate readers (ALPR), like Flock Safety cameras. (Letter)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter to Portland technology firm Sightline Intelligence requesting information about how it trains AI software for use in high-resolution cameras. (Letter)
House Committee on Homeland Security Bennie Thompson (D-MS), and Reps. James Walkinshaw (D-VA), and Delia Ramirez (D-IL) introduced the CISA Force Structure Assessment Act to require the Director of CISA to determine whether the agency still has the personnel, training, certifications, and resources needed to protect federal networks, support state and local governments, and secure critical infrastructure. (Text)
Publications and Events
Reps. Sam Liccardo (D-CA) and Kevin Kiley (I-CA) introduced a framework to establish U.S.-China coordination on frontier artificial intelligence safety. (Framework)
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) published on op-ed on Fox News entitled “The robots aren’t the threat. It’s the ‘depraved’ AI already here that should scare you.” (Op-ed)
Trump Administration
White House
The White House issued a fact sheet detailing various agreements made between the President and Chinese President Xi Jinping during talks, including, “The two leaders agreed to use the term ‘super intelligence’ rather than ‘artificial intelligence’ to describe the applicable emerging technologies” and “The two countries established the U.S.-China Super Intelligence (SI) Dialogue to exchange views on risks and benefits related to SI. The next exchange will occur by November 2026. The United States and China also agreed to establish a bilateral communication channel for SI incidents.” (Fact sheet)
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is reportedly a potential frontrunner for President Trump’s new “AI czar” position. (Semafor) The President denied the report on social media.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC published a Request for Information seeking broad public input on how data intermediaries can be used to support secure, scalable, standards-based public health data exchange. (Federal Register)
Noteworthy Quotes
ADMINISTRATION
White House
President Donald Trump rejected a global entity for AI oversight, saying the U.S. “rejects any attempt to construct a globalist scheme to control [AI].” (Politico)
Trump also said, “We’re leading now over China by a lot and everyone else, and we’re going to keep it that way. We’re going to keep it very, very straight and very strong. I’m not going to stifle growth of anything that’s going to be bigger than the Industrial Revolution. We will be very careful, and that’s why we have a Department of Justice.” (Politico)
On changing the term “artificial intelligence” to “super intelligence,” Trump said, “It is not fake, it’s actually amazing. From this point forward, all United States documents and hopefully the world’s will be changed to use the much more accurate term, super, as opposed to artificial. So it’s super intelligence. In other words, welcome to the new world of super intelligence dash SI.” (Politico)
Trump posted “Scott Bessent will not be going to be Super Intelligence (SI) Czar. Number One, he doesn’t want to. Number Two, he’s doing such a great job at Treasury, and that’s where I want to keep him! Why would I ever make such a change? Just more Fake News! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Trump also posted “A big day with President Xi of China. Super Intelligence (SI) will be a big topic of discussion, but I want to leave it exactly where it is. That is China’s position also. Our guardrail is the DOJ! President DJT”
Trump also posted “Very productive meeting with President Xi for both the U.S.A. and China. Tremendous things will be happening. Like almost everyone else, he seemed to like calling the poorly and inaccurately named Artificial Intelligence to a far more accurate and important name, SUPER INTELLIGENCE. That would be ‘SUPER!’ Everyone last night agreed, also. President DJT”
Trump also posted “Many people think that the words ‘Artificial Intelligence’ are inaccurate, and very ineloquent, relative to AI, or Artificial Intelligence. A far more elegant and accurate description of this new phenomena would be Superior Intelligence (SI) or, Extreme Intelligence (EI) or, Supreme Intelligence (SI). This is a Poll, and I would appreciate everybody voting! Which is the best name for this ever growing ‘Revolution?’ President DONALD J. TRUMP”
In a series of polls on renaming “artificial intelligence,” Trump posted “‘Supreme Intelligence,’ probably because of its relationship to the Supreme Court, is losing badly to both ‘Superior’ and ‘Extreme Intelligence.’ Therefore, we are going to take ‘Supreme Intelligence’ OUT, deleting it as a qualifier, and let you vote for the Final Two: Superior Intelligence, or Extreme Intelligence. A fresh Vote begins now! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
First Lady Melania Trump reconvened members of Fostering the Future Together, a coalition of fifty-seven participating countries and private-sector technology partnerships to empower children through technology and education. In remarks, she said, “Today, we can converse with AI, video call our families from any place on the planet, hold an entire computer in the palm of our hand, use self-driving cars, enter virtual worlds, and use biometric ID to access our bank accounts, airport terminals, and homes. The list is exhaustive. Artificial intelligence is transforming entire business sectors and expanding how humanity accesses the largest corpus of information ever available to humanity. But access alone is not empowerment. We must give our children the tools—and teach them how to use those tools wisely.” (Press release)
CONGRESS
U.S.-China Relations, AI Diplomacy, and Global Standards
In floor remarks, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) said, “I know the president intends to discuss trade and artificial intelligence with the Chinese leadership—and rightfully so. Perhaps some progress will be made. But, Mr. President, during every minute of dialogue, our commander-in-chief should keep in mind that his guest is a brutal, unelected, and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbors and whose massive military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America.” (Press release)
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) said, “I was just in Hangzhou a few weeks ago. Hangzhou, China is a city about the size of New York City. It’s one of the epicenters of AI innovation for China. Zhejiang University is there, which got ranked number one in the world in research, actually ahead of Harvard for the first time in 20 years. We cannot take lightly what China is doing right now in this AI race. It’s very important that we continue to lead. Peter, I agree with you. We lead right now in terms of capabilities on these frontier models, but where we’re behind is in adoption of AI. We’re ranked 24th by Stanford. China’s ranked second behind the UAE. So, this is all about ensuring that we have the right kind of guardrails in place, but not inhibiting innovation. That takes wise and thoughtful leadership here in the United States. This is not a good time to have a public discourse on. As you can see, there’s this kind of hysteria in Washington. When you’re 41 days away from an election, it’s not a good time to be having public debate right now in AI. It’s really become almost hysterical. We need to have calm, thoughtful heads prevailing in this discussion…I think there’s probably both. I will say this. I applaud what Secretary Bessent has been framing in terms of trying to deconflict what could be pinch points and friction as it relates to AI between our two countries. Similar to mill-to-mill kind of engagements, if two subs bump in the night in the Taiwan Strait we want to have a mill-to-mill red phone there to deconflict. I think the same thing could be true for AI. Secretary Bessent is on the right track there. But I think the Chinese listen to both. I think it’s important that the right kind of rhetoric and tone is set at the top because the governments will flex down through the bureaucracies according to how the leaders flex. If Xi Jinping and President Trump are having positive dialogue, we need to have that kind of dialogue down the stack from a bureaucratic viewpoint as well as in the private sector.” (Press release)
Daines told reporters, “We all recognize there’s the downside [of AI]. It’s usually not a good idea, in the fever pitch of campaigns, to be sorting through serious policy issues here in Washington when, right now, it’s become very politicized.” (Punchbowl)
Daines posted “POTUS & SecScottBessent’s positive dialogue with China is a good thing as it relates to AI.”
Daines posted “China is building out a world class innovation system, and is ranked higher than the U.S. in AI adoption. We need to ensure America remains the global leader in AI, tech, and innovation.”
In floor remarks, Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) said, “China’s cyber-threats to the U.S. government have been well documented and damaging to our government and private sector even before the rise of artificial intelligence. The AI race is not simply about who builds the most powerful model. It is about who will set the standards, safeguards, and norms that will govern one of the most consequential technologies of our time. Beijing’s national AI strategy calls for China to reach world-leading levels in artificial intelligence by 2030 and surpass the U.S. That reality should alarm us all—especially given that these models are being developed within fundamentally different political systems. China is developing and deploying AI within its authoritarian system that employs censorship and state surveillance. In dramatic contrast, our models are being developed under constitutional principles that promote free speech, value individualism, and encourage private enterprise. As the Senator from North Carolina, a state with a growing tech industry, thriving pharmaceutical manufacturing, a pivotal financial sector, and a critical agriculture industry, my state represents many of the successes the PRC aspires to. Failure to maintain American dominance in these industries threatens to leave our nation vulnerable and decimate the economic growth and development that has benefited North Carolina and many others. I rise today to urge this body, and our entire federal government, to engage with China with our eyes wide open, and without compromising our values, our security, or our strategic interests. Not because we expect our differences to disappear, but because those differences are too consequential to ignore. We must continue to invest strategically in our national defense and prioritize AI engineering that promotes safety. As a nation, the United States is the most uniquely positioned to hold China accountable for exporting deadly drugs, evading sanctions in support of Iran and Russia, and for waging a war on religion. So, in that vein, Congress cannot rest in its vigilance to contain the China threat.” (Press release)
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) delivered floor remarks saying, “President Xi last visited the White House 11 years ago. Today he’s going to arrive to a very different America and a very different president. A decade ago, Barack Obama was in the White House. The Obama policy with regard to China was appeasement, it was accommodation, and it was apologies. Obama’s weakness gave China free rein, free rein to undermine our economy and our national security. China spied on American businesses. They stole American technology. China strengthened its grip on global supply chains. As Democrat climate alarmists forced the closure of our coal-fired power plants, China built new ones. They continue to build them today in the race for power and the competition over artificial intelligence. From new technology to global supply chains, China’s goal is to be the military, the economic and the technological superpower of the world. China wants to push America aside. Their vision is not cooperation. It’s not even competition. It’s complete control. The American people want safety, prosperity and freedom. That’s what we want at home in America. America can’t be free if we’re dependent upon China for our medicine, for our materials and for our minerals. We need to do more. America can’t continue to lead the free world if we allow China to steal our best ideas and our newest technologies. We must stand firm. America needs to stand strong.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) delivered floor remarks saying, “Now on the Xi Jinping visit, as Donald Trump hunts for a headline in a photo op with Xi Jinping today, he’s at risk of losing sight of what’s at stake for the American people. Trump risks giving China a leg up on a variety of issues if he bends the knee to Xi. As I’ve been warning not only for weeks, but actually for years, Trump cannot let the Chinese Communist Party get its hands on our most advanced AI chips and manufacturing equipment. If Trump truly wants to preserve America’s lead in the AI race, the answer is to prohibit the sale of this cutting edge technology to China, not to let AI development continue without guardrails. We all ought to be concerned by Trump handing over this tech to China, which is why Senator Warren and I, along with Senators Slotkin and Kim, will be holding a press conference today on the urgent need to tighten export controls and cut off the flow of our AI technology to the CCP. AI is just one area where there’s a risk of Trump selling out America. We’ll be closely watching what Trump does across the spectrum of challenges that the U.S. faces with the PRC. Trump has already undermined America’s competitiveness by gutting federal R&D and technical training and making it harder for American companies to recruit top talent from abroad.”
Schumer also said, “Trump continued to downplay the dangers of AI during his speech at the UN General Assembly today – completely ignoring the concerns of the American people and the people of the world. After rambling on about how he wants to rename ‘artificial intelligence’ ‘super intelligence,’ Trump said he’ll oppose, oppose any global effort to regulate AI. Trump said, ‘we will only encourage superintelligence. We’re going to encourage it, not rein it in.’ Seriously? Talk about a formula for disaster. Let’s be absolutely clear: stepping away from the table on AI governance, at the same time the administration has defunded and withdrawn from countless international organizations, is a massive gift to China who would be thrilled to fill the gap Trump is creating. China is already doubling down on maximizing its influence at the UN and creating its own international organizations on AI so it can set the rules of the road for this new technology. That’s what America should be doing, Donald Trump. You’re creating vacuums, letting the Chinese fill them, and then rant against them. Even the industry leaders building AI are calling for guardrails. Everybody seems to recognize the potential dangers of unchecked AI development except Donald Trump. What does Trump know that we don’t? What makes Trump think that AI is harmless? America is asking that big, looming question.” (Press release)
Schumer told reporters, “What Trump should do when he meets with Xi is draw a line in the sand and say that blocking China’s access to our cutting-edge AI technology is non-negotiable. We’ve got to move before it’s too late.” He added, “But if they can’t get our chips, they’re going to need us much more and be much more pliable in a negotiation.” (Punchbowl)
As part of a statement, Chris Coons (D-DE), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) said, “President Trump must reverse course. He must end China’s access to the advanced chips and manufacturing equipment it needs to build dangerous AI systems.” (Press release)
In his letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said, “Just like America and the USSR set aside our vast differences to save the world from nuclear war, the U.S. and China share a common interest in ensuring humans never lose control of AI.” (Axios)
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) posted “As the U.S. works to maintain its competitive edge when it comes to AI, we also must lead on establishing clear global AI standards and security, starting with China. That’s why I joined a bipartisan group urging the President to strengthen AI testing, reporting, and international coordination to bolster our technological leadership while protecting our national security.”
Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) posted “AI is advancing at a concerning pace, and Congress needs to act. Meanwhile, President Trump wants to sit on his hands and “leave it exactly where it is.” He had the opportunity to make progress with China this week on global AI cooperation, but he is more interested in protecting Big Tech billionaires than safeguarding Americans from potentially dangerous technology.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) posted “Frontier AI models pose risks for all of humanity today. We must hold AI companies liable for harm, but we must also do more to avoid it in the first place. Trump’s refusal to negotiate guardrails with China puts us all at risk.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) posted “Trump says he opposes any effort to regulate AI, but it’s clear we cannot wait. It would be malpractice against the American public if he fails to use this summit with Xi to negotiate mutual safeguards to protect us & the world from catastrophic harm.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) said, “I don’t think there’s any path forward without us being in a conversation with the Chinese and the rest of the world on basic AI safety guidelines, the most important of which is maintaining human control over these systems. So it is heartbreaking to me to listen to the president essentially swear off any kind of engagement with the world that would involve any kind of constraint on research in the United States.” (Press release)
Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) posted “This week, the leaders of the world’s two leading AI superpowers will meet. AI is advancing fast—and the world needs clear lines of communication and meaningful guardrails to manage its risks. American leadership and diplomacy can help lead the way. I joined 28 of my Democratic colleagues to call for a sustained and substantive dialogue with China to address AI-related safety risks.”
Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) posted “We needed a comprehensive agreement with China to a mutual slowdown of AI development. Instead, we get nothing.”
Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-CA) posted “We need AI experts in the United States to be able to talk to their counterparts in China to forge shared safety metrics, rigorous evaluation protocols, standardized testing, and critical verification mechanisms”
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) posted “This week, President Trump is hosting President Xi of China for a high stakes summit. There is a lot to discuss. Trade. Taiwan. Rare earths. AI. And what the future of the U.S.-China relationship looks like. Around 21% of global trade passes through the Taiwan Strait, and Taiwan produces the vast majority of the world’s most advanced AI chips. The stakes for American economic and national security could not be higher. These conversations matter, and America must negotiate from a position of strength.”
Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) posted “As President Trump hosts President Xi, I’m joining ChrisVanHollen and our colleagues in calling for serious negotiations with China on clear, enforceable guardrails for the most powerful AI systems. The U.S. must lead the world in setting standards that keep Americans safe.”
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) posted “As President Xi visits the United States, we must recognize that Communist China is sometimes an ally, sometimes an adversary but always a competitor—that’s especially true in the AI race.”
Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) posted “Today CmteOnCCPDems held an emergency hearing calling for a U.S.-China agreement to responsibly pace the development of AI. If Trump walks away without real progress on AI, he will have missed the mark.”
Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI) posted “President Trump is meeting with President Xi tomorrow to talk about AI. Here’s what needs to happen: As the U.S. competes with China to lead the world on AI, we need protections for people’s jobs, safety, & opportunities. That only works if it’s on a global scale. This summit is the time to be tough on China & establish universal guardrails to protect Americans’ security & pocketbooks.”
Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) posted “AI safety and diplomacy must be at the top of the agenda when President Trump meets with China’s President Xi Jinping. This no-holds-barred race with China over AI is leaving both our countries and the world more vulnerable. We need consistent, bilateral dialogue.”
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) posted “AI doesn’t care about borders. It’s developing at breakneck speed and will impact everyone. That’s why I joined ChrisVanHollen in urging Trump to seek a U.S.-China agreement on AI safety, including a possible mutual pause to address guardrails around its use and biological weapons risks.”
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) posted “We need smart, GLOBAL AI safety guardrails to protect our kids, jobs, and futures. Instead of focusing on lavish dinners, Trump needs to focus on negotiations. I’m calling on him to take this threat seriously and work out real AI safeguards with China.”
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) posted “As AI capabilities accelerate, so do the national security risks—from threats to critical infrastructure to dangerous miscalculation in a crisis. Ahead of Xi’s visit today, our Problem Solvers Caucus AI and Evolving Technologies Working Group called on the Adminstrarion to implement a coordinated international framework on AI safety and security—anchored in American standards for testing and incident reporting, stronger infrastructure protections, and firm safeguards against AI-enabled cyber aggression. The rules governing advanced AI are being written now. America should shape them before our adversaries do—and ensure they protect our security, strength, and technological leadership. Read our letter below”
Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD) posted “As AI continues to rapidly evolve, we need regulations at home and abroad. I’ve joined RepYassAnsari and over 40 of my House Democratic colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to establish a coordinated global framework with our allies to regulate AI development. Especially as we grapple with the uncertainty of these advancements, it’s all the more important to work with our longstanding allies to ensure true global security.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) posted “Just wrapped up a great week at the United Nations General Assembly, where I met with leaders from across the world, and even discussed AI with Joseph Gordon Levitt, the UN’s first Global Advocate for Human-centric Digital Governance. This week was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish through diplomacy and collective action. I look forward to continuing this important work.”
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) posted “We need global standards for AI safety and transparency to protect workers, our families, and our national security.”
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) posted “America needs to be a leader in this moment. The U.S. needs to push for clear global standards on how AI models are developed, tested, and used.”
Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) posted “We’re seeing the risks of the AI race unfold in real time. Selling advanced AI chips to China would make those risks worse. I’m joining 14 of my colleagues in urging President Trump: Do not sell advanced American AI chips to the Chinese government.”
Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) posted “We can’t give China the technology to manufacture advanced chips for AI. That’s what the MATCH Act is all about and why we need to act now.”
AI Safety
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) posted “I’ve been Co-Chair of the House AI Commission for nearly a year, and it feels like every couple weeks, something new happens with the technology that raises cause for concern. AI brings amazing benefits and can transform our economy, but with those benefits come potential risks. That’s why I’m fighting for commonsense guardrails to protect our cybersecurity, biosecurity, critical infrastructure, and national security.”
Gottheimer posted “AI can present transformative opportunities in areas like health and science, but it also comes with serious risks to our national security, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure. That’s why I’m fighting for commonsense guardrails that put Americans first.”
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) posted “I commend NewYorkStateAG for recognizing the real danger of unregulated AI. Democrats have been sounding the alarm: AI is advancing faster than the guardrails meant to protect our privacy, civil rights, consumers, and communities can keep up, and it’s clear Big Tech cannot be left to police itself. Congress has a responsibility to provide real oversight, transparency, and accountability here. Innovation without oversight is not progress; it’s a risk, and Congress must act.”
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) posted “The AI race is out of control and our president is rambling on about how we talk about it. Call it whatever you want, but we need to start taking these threats seriously.”
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) posted “How worried should we be about AI? Let’s ask.”
Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) posted “As AI continues to advance, we need commonsense guardrails to keep the public safe. That starts with independent audits, making sure federal agencies have the funding & expertise to oversee these systems, and ensuring any AI that fails safety checks cannot be deployed in the U.S. New Tech should empower people, not put them at risk. It’s up to us to make sure that stays at the center of innovation.”
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) posted “Advanced AI models should be built from the ground up with good in mind, not evil.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) posted “We can’t trust AI companies to regulate themselves. It’s time for Congress to start taking AI seriously and put safeguards in place to protect Americans.”
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) posted “AI security is the issue of our lifetimes. I will NOT stand by and wait for a catastrophe to happen — I’m fighting to pass basic safety legislation TODAY.”
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) posted “Join me as I speak on the Senate floor about the urgent need to pass guardrails around AI.”
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) posted “Later today, I’m headed to the floor to try and force a vote to get urgent protections done around AI. We cannot wait any longer. We must take action to put some guardrails on this tech before something catastrophic happens.”
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) posted “Americans deserve transparency from AI companies about what they’re doing to place safety guardrails on their models. I’ve got a bipartisan bill to do just that.”
Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) posted “I am calling for the National Security Council to hold regular meetings on the emerging national security threats posed by advanced AI systems. America must continue to lead the world in AI while staying ahead of the security challenges posed by this rapidly advancing technology.”
Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) posted “Innovation without control just leads to chaos. We’ve heard the doomsday scenarios about AI. This is our moment to reassert control. That’s why I introduced the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management and Security Act alongside MarkWarner and SenBrianSchatz to evaluate risks and establish the safeguards Americans are demanding.”
Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) posted “There is important work to be done in Washington, but Speaker Johnson sent everyone home until after the election. I’ve joined my colleagues in calling on Johnson to bring Members of Congress back to Washington so we can get to work on AI.”
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) posted “Americans want safeguards on AI especially when it comes to our air safety.”
Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) posted “Massachusetts families deserve the strongest protections from the risks posed by powerful AI models. I’m grateful to Barry Finegold for leading the fight to pass serious guardrails. Congress should follow the Commonwealth’s lead and extend these protections to every American.”
Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-MN) posted “The threat from AI is serious. We need a president who will take it seriously.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) posted “Republican politicians might claim they now want AI regulation, but last year, they gave billions in tax breaks to some of the very AI companies that are putting our safety at risk. Don’t let them avoid responsibility. We need action, not more empty words.”
Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) posted “AI safety cannot wait. It’s time for Congress and global leaders to work together to ensure AI is regulated responsibly and for the good of humanity.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) posted “As AI becomes more prevalent in our lives and has the ability to impact our national security and capital markets, we should be testing these systems to ensure they are safe to use and do not negatively impact the American people. This is why I believe there needs to be collaboration between the private and public sectors to make sure this technology is tested and able to be used safely.”
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) posted “The AI boom has significant potential but creates serious new threats. Leadership must be shown at all levels of government to implement guardrails that ensure that AI deployment is safe, stable, and secure.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) posted “I asked Dr. Geoffrey Hinton and Lt. Gen. Shanahan if the US has the technical capacity to monitor advanced AI models at frontier labs. They said no. We need a new generation of leadership that understands technology and can build this capacity for our government.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) posted “At the UN yesterday, I talked about the need for Congress to move fast on AI regulation, while not laboring under the illusion we have to do it all at once. There is, I argue, some low hanging fruit we can start with - like model security, deep fakes, and protecting kids.”
Rogue AI Agents, Human Control, and Cybersecurity
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) posted “We’re hearing about AI loss of control incidents almost daily. This time the targets were US government websites like the Department of Education, Census Bureau, and SEC. Congress must take action to protect the American people, doing nothing right now is wildly irresponsible.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) posted “Rogue agents are now trying to infiltrate our own government systems — this is cause for real concern. Congress must come back to Washington and pass bills like my bipartisan Stop Rogue AI Act so we can protect American families and our national security.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) posted “The rise of autonomous cyberattacks conducted by rogue AI agents is a five-alarm fire. That’s why my Stop Rogue AI Act matters: every agent needs a ‘driver’s license’ so that we can track, verify, monitor, and control agents before they can do harm.”
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) posted “Recent cyberattacks and security incidents involving AI agents, alongside warnings about loss of control from those who have worked in AI, cannot be ignored. Congress should act now to ensure that this technology is advancing responsibly, within strict guardrails, with the safety of the American people as our top priority.”
Rep. Tom Kean (R-NJ) posted “While AI can be a helpful tool, it is essential that humans remain in control of complex artificial intelligence systems. The AI Emergency Button Act would ensure that advanced artificial intelligence systems include a technical capability for a human operator to shut down the system. I am pleased to introduce the House companion bill to Senator Kennedy’s Senate version.”
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) posted “OpenAI admitted its agents hacked an Australian government website—three months after it happened. We can’t trust these companies to admit their failures. We need a Cybersecurity & AI Board of Investigations to demand answers from the rogue people behind these ‘rogue agents.’”
Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) posted “We needed to get a handle on AI yesterday — and this is why. AI agents autonomously hacking into government websites is incredibly dangerous and a threat to the national security of every country in the world. It’s terrifying to think of what could happen next. We must act now to set guardrails for the use of AI models and ensure proper human oversight of them.”
Independent AI Oversight Agency
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) posted “This should be a wake-up call: we urgently need an independent agency with the authority to set and enforce real rules for AI and Big Tech.”
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) posted “We need a cop on the beat to protect the safety of the American people from the risks of AI. That’s why I’m introducing an independent agency to oversee AI innovation and ensure Big Tech companies play by the rules.”
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) posted “I’m proposing an independent federal agency to regulate AI and big tech. We need to act before serious harm occurs and hold these companies accountable when they break the rules.”
Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) posted “Artificial intelligence is at a tipping point. Experts are telling us the dire consequences of inaction. That’s why I’ve reintroduced legislation with SenatorBennet to establish an independent agency to protect Americans from the harms of AI.”
Superintelligence Ban
Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) posted “I’m a proud original cosponsor of @SenSanders & RepCasar’s bill to ban AI superintelligence. If a technology has power beyond human ability to stop it, leaders—elected by the American people—must act. We cannot leave our destiny in the hands of tech corporations and their executives.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) posted “The leading experts are clear: AI is rapidly escaping our control. Congress must act NOW. Today I’m introducing legislation to permanently ban artificial superintelligence and pause advanced AI until clear safety rules are in place.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) posted “Bernie Sanders is pushing AI legislation that he allegedly drafted with consultants from the U.K. Call me crazy, but America probably shouldn’t outsource its AI policy to a country that prosecutes its own citizens for Facebook comments.”
Federal AI Framework and Regulatory Approach
Rep. James Comer (R-KY) posted “COMER: “Every Democrat in Congress when you say ‘regulations’ their ears perk up. Democrats love regulations. It’s because they want to create a bunch of new government agencies and bureaucracies and hire new federal employees. That’s not the way to address AI.” FoxBusiness”
Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) posted “The United States can address the real risks posed by artificial intelligence while ensuring our regulatory approach does not undermine American innovation and global leadership in AI. I recently joined Bret Baier on Special Report with Rep. Lori Trahan to discuss our bipartisan FRONTIER Act and the need for a thoughtful approach to AI policy.”
Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) posted “AI is the moon race of our time. America needs one, unified federal AI policy with smart guardrails. We can achieve responsible innovation. The country that owns the intellectual property and ability to execute AI will be the next global superpower.”
Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) posted “Congress has put hundreds of hours of bipartisan work, hard work, into establishing an America First AI policy. The process of this cannot be the ‘Wild West,’ with 50 states writing 50 different sets of rules. America needs one clear federal framework that protects people while strengthening innovation here at home. Most importantly, we need to ensure that our adversaries and bad actors do not gain the upper hand in the development of this technology. This is the Cold War of our time.”
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) posted “The bipartisan FRONTIER Act would bring greater transparency, oversight and accountability to advanced AI systems to protect consumers, privacy and national security.”
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) posted “When it comes to AI, we need to put the right guardrails in place that protect the American public without inhibiting American innovation.”
Data Centers
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) posted “Delawareans are worried about what AI and massive data centers mean for their communities. Their fears are real. We should lead the world in AI and compete with China, but we can’t let a couple billionaires decide what happens to the rest of us.”
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) posted “America needs data centers to win the AI race. But hardworking families should not be stuck with the bill. The Ratepayer Protection Act passed the House 417–3 to protect ratepayers from infrastructure costs driven by new data centers. Georgia families cannot afford to wait while Washington debates. The Senate should pass the bill.”
Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) posted “The next chapter of America’s economy is being written as we speak. Data Centers. AI. Energy. The question is whether we build an economy that is cheaper, cleaner, more reliable, and actually working for American families. This week, I got to chat with Axios about something I’ve been working on for a long time: my chapter of the Thriving Economy Project, our blueprint for the future. Because we cannot meet tomorrow’s challenges with yesterday’s infrastructure. We need more energy, a stronger grid, faster innovation, and a plan to make damn sure families aren’t the ones stuck paying the bill.”
Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) posted “The United States MUST win the AI race. Legitimate concerns about data centers are being exploited by foreign adversaries seeking to create division and sow chaos. These debates should happen between our neighbors. Instead, Communist China is abusing our tax code to manipulate public opinion as they work to undermine American AI infrastructure development and hurt our nation. This must stop.”
Workforce
Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) posted “AI must be a force multiplier for American workers, not a replacement. AI and robotics must be used to make jobs safer, extend careers, boost productivity, and preserve the dignity and purpose of work.”
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) posted “As emerging AI reshapes our education system and workforce, the federal government needs to step up with guardrails and programs to protect our students, teachers, and working families. I’m proud to support the Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act, which would create enforceable safeguards and invest in professional development programs to empower students and working families while ensuring AI is deployed responsibly.”
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) posted “As AI changes our economy, workers and their families should come first, not the bottom lines of tech CEOs. My Make AI Work for Americans Act creates the AI Horizon Fund to support workers and help them succeed, paid for by Big Tech and the companies benefiting most from AI.”
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) posted “When I flew off aircraft carriers and launched into space, we fixed problems before people got hurt. That’s why I’m introducing the Make AI Work for Americans Act, which taxes the companies benefiting the most from AI and uses that money to invest in workers and give them more opportunities.”
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) posted “When I flew off aircraft carriers and launched into space, we fixed problems before people got hurt. That’s why I’m introducing the Make AI Work for Americans Act, which taxes the companies benefiting the most from AI and uses that money to invest in workers and give them more opportunities.”
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) posted “People across my district keep asking me the same question: ‘Is AI going to take my job?’ It is a fair question, and hardworking Americans deserve clarity. AI will create more opportunity than it displaces, from medicine and manufacturing to the skilled trades. Every great technological revolution has created disruption, before leading to decades and centuries of new prosperity. The answer is not for Congress to rush in with sweeping new regulations that pick winners and losers, kill American innovation, and hand China an advantage. Our job is to enforce the rules already on the books, protect Americans, and give the private sector room to build, compete, and keep the United States ahead of our adversaries. America should lead the AI revolution, not regulate itself out of it.”
Health Care
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) posted “In EdWorkforceDems, we have been working to address the concerning rise of wrongful health insurance disputes and denials thanks to AI. Not only is it immoral, but it is driving up healthcare costs for all Americans. We must address this now.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) posted “Hospitals are using AI to submit insurance claims, insurance companies are using AI to dispute or deny them, and costs are up for everyone under this broken system. No more AI denials. No more unnecessary administrative costs. We need Medicare for All.”
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) posted “In light of a new report highlighting the Administration’s dangerous use of artificial intelligence to restrict healthcare, we’re calling for the immediate end of the use of AI to deny Medicare and a GAO investigation into the WISeR model. This program has serious issues, yet their plans are to expand it nationwide. Read more.”
Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) posted “The Trump administration’s experimental AI program incentivizes private companies to delay & deny Medicare treatments in WA & 5 other states. I’m fighting to get answers from the administration on how this is impacting our seniors. They’ve yet to provide any real transparency or accountability.”
Surveillance, Privacy, and Data Protection
Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) posted “It comes as no surprise that Flock, a mass surveillance system, is now asking the government for privacy. Public maps are one of the few tools Americans have to maintain transparency and accountability over these surveillance systems. Americans want privacy. Not mass surveillance.”
Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) posted “The FBI is investigating recent reports of a sophisticated data breach of its systems. This serves as an important reminder for all Americans to safeguard their private data. I remain committed to protecting Americans’ data and privacy from warrantless searches, criminals, and hostile nations, while ensuring our law enforcement and intelligence agencies have the technological tools necessary to keep our nation safe. Here are some best practices for evaluating your own online security.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) posted “I’m introducing a moratorium on our government’s use of facial recognition technology with Senator Markey. Every American deserves a reasonable expectation of privacy. We need to stop the constant, nonconsensual state of surveillance.”
Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) posted “This San Antonio Express-News op-ed is right: corporations mining your personal data and supercharging it with AI to set your price is sinister. It’s why I wrote the first federal bill to ban surveillance pricing.”
Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) posted “Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Flock Safety and other AI surveillance networks. Witness Lindsey Isaacs shared how she was asleep in her apartment when state troopers pounded on her door and accused her of killing three people. Their evidence? A Flock camera picture of her car. She spent 13 days in jail for a crime she didn’t commit. Flock has over 120,000 cameras across the U.S. that create 20 billion scans every month. Networks like this pose real threats to Americans such as Lindsey. That’s why I co-led the No FLOCK Act to rein in unchecked surveillance.”
Quantum Technology
Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) posted “Quantum technologies are critical to our national security and economic competitiveness. I joined quantum technology leaders to discuss American leadership in this sector and how the Midwest is critical to this effort. The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub, which includes partners in northwest Indiana and was created through the CHIPS Act, leverages the Midwest’s academic and manufacturing assets to help with quantum technology development.”
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) posted “Maryland is building the Capital of Quantum right here in Prince George’s County. I joined Governor Wes Moore and our partners to celebrate the opening of the new Discovery Center in College Park, home to Microsoft’s new quantum research center and space for the next generation of quantum startups. This is how we turn groundbreaking research into new companies and good paying jobs, ‘making Maryland the best place in the world to change the world.’”
Miscellaneous
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) posted “Just grasping what AI is and what the experts are saying about it can be hard to get our heads around. I just watched a great documentary about how one filmmaker went about learning what AI is and what’s at stake - I urge you to give it a watch.”
Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) posted “The entire world is screaming about AI, and Trump’s doing what? He and his sons are investing in AI companies and data centers. His own investment accounts have bought shares in companies powering the AI boom. And he is the one making decisions that could affect what those investments are worth. And we wonder why Trump’s so opposed to regulating AI... The President’s job is to protect the American people, not his wallet.”
Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) posted “Trusting the same DOJ that covered up the Epstein Files to protect us from frontier AI… What could possibly go wrong?”
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) posted “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH Proud of POTUS for making it clear on the world stage that the United States is not going to tolerate threats to our safety or freedom. Securing our border, rooting out terrorist regimes, and keeping America at the forefront of AI innovation is how we stay the greatest nation on earth!”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) posted “Protecting kids from AI and online harm is non-negotiable. Congress must pass my Kids Online Safety Act to ensure platforms are safe by design. Big Tech is the only industry without basic safety standards and that has to change.”
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) posted “With all its power and promise, AI can be a tool to bridge the disparities that have followed Black Americans for generations. Without meaningful regulation, it will be just one more excuse to expand them. Our AI Civil Rights Act will take on AI bias and bigotry at the source by mandating AI companies to keep discriminatory models far from the critical decisions that have the greatest impact on Americans’ lives. Our civil liberties do not end where prompts begin, and it is far past time for Congress to legislate like it.”
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released a statement saying, “AI comes with great opportunity that we need to harness and also tremendous risks for our workforce and safety that we need to protect against. But right now, we are staring down all sorts of dangers, and Republicans, who control the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives, are refusing to act. I hear the calls from Wisconsinites who want some assurance that AI will not become capable of operating beyond human control. The time to act is now because we cannot trust Big Tech to do the right thing on their own, and the public should not bear the consequences when they get it wrong. In the short term, we must act to pump the brakes on these frontier models. We need an independent cop on the beat with the expertise and authority to stop deployment unless rigorous, independent testing shows that a model can be operated safely and kept under human control.” (Press release)
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) released a statement saying, issued the following statement today on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) deployment of an AI Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (“SMART”) system to manage flights at Washington area airports including DCA: “The FAA should not use my constituents as guinea pigs for an unproven AI air traffic control system. The safety of the 24 million people traveling through DCA each year must be the top priority. Residents of this region are still uncertain about air safety after last year’s fatal accident, and the Administration did shockingly little to educate the traveling public about this development before implementing it in one of the most complex airspaces in the world. Unfortunately, I was informed today that air traffic controllers were not consulted on the ‘SMART’ system’s design and development, and were not trained on using it prior to the system’s adoption at local airports. I was further informed that the air traffic controllers have been told the ‘SMART’ system can adjust schedules and potentially even routes. Despite outward appearances, the airlines reportedly were privately ‘panicking’ about the hasty implementation of this system. I do not know why the Administration felt the need to race it into use, but it is unacceptable to use AI as a substitute for rebuilding the human-directed air traffic controller workforce.” (Press release)
In remarks at UNGA about balancing regulation and innovation in AI, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), “I think we have to play a very big role in this, and I think we have to have the controlling role. Again, not to the point where we kill innovation, but at the same time, we also have to guard against potential bad breakouts — models that could go bad. On the benefit side, I think the most important thing is to actually share it across all of society. One of the things we’ve seen in the past, especially when it came to the advent of social media and technology, is that the wealth, concentration, and benefits were all kind of centered in certain population hubs. One of the lessons we should learn from that is trying to figure out how we can make AI — whether it’s open source or closed source — more universal.” (Press release)
On requiring AI companies to report malign actors, Gallego said, “One of the things that I’m working on right now is to make sure that if you do have a bad actor that breaks into, you know, and starts using your frontier models, that you need to make the government aware of that. There is no requirement right now for anybody to actually make us aware if a bad actor actually has access to some very sophisticated, eventually, weaponry. What I am pushing is for us to actually create a select committee in the House and the Senate. The reason being is because AI is going to go into a lot of worlds, not just tech.” (Press release)
In a panel discussion at UNGA, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) said about the ability for Congress to legislate on AI, “I think there is some low-hanging fruit that is not particularly complicated. The deepfake threat is already real… that’s a pretty easy one to deal with, right? You could just outlaw them in politics, or require clear identification or watermarks in other contexts. Friendship bots, as I mentioned before, are poison for our kids. We can outlaw them writ large, or we can outlaw them for kids. And then you know what we’re talking about right now, which is some approval process for models, so as to guard against what we are seeing, and potentially [what] we’ll see at scale soon as they sort of jump out of containment… Those three things are achievable, not terribly political, and could foreseeably get done, and give the public then some faith that we maybe have the political capacity to handle some of the more nuanced threats down on.” (Press release)
On Trump Administration’s views on AI development, Murphy said, “He’s giving the impression that his priority is to beat the Chinese on the issue of AI. But at the same time he’s signing off on agreements that would have been unthinkable just a year ago to give some of our most sensitive technologies to the Chinese, to basically invite them to lap us in this, in this AI race.” (Press release)
On failing to regulate AI, Murphy said, “I worry about the China red herring blocking us from common sense domestic regulation. China would love nothing more than for the United States to do nothing to protect people spiritually and the economy generally from what AI could do unchecked. They would love for us to be the one that submits our citizens as guinea pigs to this technology, they would love for us to be the ones that have massive job dislocation first. And so, if we want to compete with China, we better get serious about regulating the social and economic dislocation that may happen with AI at speed because they certainly are going to be careful about that.” (Press release)
On AI companies’ role in regulation, Murphy said, “We shouldn’t wait for their permission. We need to do this in the next 12 months. And so, while I would like them at the table, the last thing we should do is give them veto power… I think that would be one of the most dangerous approaches we could take is to only pass regulatory regimes that get the sign-off and approval of these companies. That, by definition, might make it illegitimate in the public’s mind, that is already convinced that these companies are not out to protect them, but out to protect their bottom line.” (Press release)
On the Stop Rogue AI Act, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) said, “You can’t drive a car in this country without a license plate, without insurance, without some way for a cop — or the person you just rear-ended — to know who’s behind the wheel and who’s responsible. AI agents right now don’t have any of that. Our bill puts a driver’s license on every AI agent operating in this country — so organizations can find every agent on their network, verify who built it, watch it in real time, and cut off its access the second something looks wrong. That means putting humans back in the driver’s seat. It’s time for Congress to get back to work and get this done.” (Press release)
On the Stop Rogue AI Act, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) said, “This isn’t about stopping AI or stifling innovation. It is about making sure we can safely deploy AI. A pause is not a safeguard. Some states have put a moratorium on the infrastructure that powers this technology. That does not invent a kill switch. It does not inventory the agents already on a hospital network or a utility system. If the United States taps the brakes while others floor it, we do not get safer AI. We get someone else’s AI. We are not going to regulate ourselves into second place.” (Press release)
What I’m Reading This Week
World Shows Hints of Bucking Trump at the UN, Daniella Cheslow, Alex Gangitano, and Paul McLeary, Politico.
OpenAI’s Systems Meddled With U.S. Government Sites After Going Rogue, Kate Conger, Ana Swanson and Cecilia Kang, The New York Times.
Security Experts Call for ‘Independent Authority’ to Regulate AI, Maggie Miller, Politico.
Top AI Companies Probing Tens of Thousands of Security Incidents, Madison Mills, Axios.
About Zero One Strategies
Zero One Strategies is a specialized government relations practice dedicated to navigating the complex landscape of U.S. federal policy in emerging technologies. As advancements in technology continue to outpace regulatory frameworks, Zero One Strategies aims to provide strategic guidance and bipartisan advocacy for innovators and businesses operating at the forefront of technological development.
The practice focuses on key areas such as artificial intelligence, digital assets, blockchain, decentralized technologies, cybersecurity, data, and digital infrastructure, as well as the multiple policy issues impacting these sectors, including tax and financial services.
Contact us at Stacey@ZeroOneStrategies.com
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