A bipartisan House duo’s final pitch for pre-midterm AI action - Politico

They are requesting that the House Energy and Commerce Committee schedule a hearing in September to consider the legislation. The bill represents a rare bipartisan effort on a contentious issue, with both sponsors expressing optimism despite the tight timeline. The two lawmakers, who sit on the committee, have been working on the bill for months and believe it can gain bipartisan support.

The bill, developed over months of cross-party talks, is intended to establish a national framework for AI governance, covering areas such as transparency, accountability, and risk mitigation. While the full text remains under wraps, the sponsors have publicly outlined their guiding principles. They argue that federal action is needed to address AI's risks and to prevent a patchwork of state laws. The sponsors have been building support among colleagues, but face opposition from some who prefer a lighter regulatory approach. The bill is seen as a compromise between industry concerns and safety advocates.

The Energy and Commerce Committee has not yet committed to a hearing date, leaving the bill's fate uncertain. If it does not secure a hearing, the bill is effectively dead for this session. The coming weeks will reveal whether this bipartisan effort can gain the traction needed to become law.