Jeffries to Meet with New House Democratic AI Commission
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is set to hold his inaugural meeting with a newly established House Democratic commission on AI this week. This meeting signals a proactive approach by Democrats to enhance their focus on AI policy issues in anticipation of the upcoming midterm elections.
Commission Leadership and Meeting Details
While the specific attendees of the session remain unclear, the House Democratic Commission on AI and the Innovation Economy is spearheaded by Representatives Ted Lieu from California, Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey, and Valerie Foushee from North Carolina. Lieu, who also serves as the vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, confirmed that the meeting will likely occur on Thursday, pending schedule arrangements.
Urgency in AI Policy Development
The formation of this commission, which was established in December, underscores the urgency felt by House Democrats in crafting a comprehensive party platform regarding AI technology. This comes in the wake of repeated attempts by Republican-led initiatives to introduce a federal preemption that would hinder states from implementing their own AI regulations.
Lobbying and Industry Influence
Major companies involved in AI, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, are aggressively expanding their lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., investing millions to influence policy. In contrast, senior Republican lawmakers, such as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz, have advocated for including federal preemption measures in defense authorization bills.
White House Executive Order
In response to ongoing regulatory challenges, the White House issued an executive order that establishes a new AI Litigation Task Force aimed at contesting state AI laws. Critics argue that this move could hinder innovation, while the order also directs top administration officials to propose a federal legislative framework to replace the existing patchwork of state laws.
Bipartisan Efforts and Future Cooperation
Both Democrats and Republicans are keen to have a role in developing this federal framework. Representative Jay Obernolte, who co-chairs the bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence with Lieu, emphasized the necessity for Congress to collaborate effectively. “The executive order asks us in Congress to get our act together and to help them on the preemption piece,” he stated. “We all agree that there is a federal lane and a state lane for regulation.”
As the conversation around AI regulation intensifies, the upcoming meeting between Jeffries and the new commission will likely play a crucial role in shaping the Democratic response to AI policy ahead of the midterms.
