Congress Faces Tight Deadline to Pass AI Safeguard Legislation Before Midterms
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U.S. lawmakers are under pressure to enact AI safety measures before the House adjourns for the November midterm elections, amid calls from industry leaders and officials for urgent regulation.
Washington is racing to address growing concerns over artificial intelligence as senior officials and tech executives warn that the technology is outpacing existing oversight. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) told CNN that current policy responses are insufficient, while Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro urged Congress to act quickly after AI CEOs pledged to slow development.
Democratic lawmakers, led by Representative Sam Liccardo (D-CA), sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) demanding that the chamber remain in session until meaningful AI safeguards are passed. The letter cited pending proposals that include transparency requirements, model evaluation, "kill switch" provisions and a temporary antitrust waiver to facilitate industry cooperation on safety.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats will meet to discuss guardrails, emphasizing the need for decisive action to protect the public. Johnson, however, cautioned that an emergency session could hinder U.S. competitiveness with China and suggested a meeting with industry leaders to develop a collaborative approach.
Senator Ruben Gallego echoed the call for a summit, arguing that waiting for a committee to draft a framework over several years is not viable given the speed of AI advances. President Donald Trump, speaking in Ireland, reiterated that the United States remains ahead of China in AI and that regulatory measures should not impede progress.
While the House has introduced several AI-related bills, including the FRONTIER Act, the Senate has yet to present a comparable bipartisan proposal. An industry source indicated that legislation could emerge in the coming week as lawmakers seek a tangible achievement before the November elections.