New Democrat Coalition backs slate of AI bills 

The New Democrat Coalition endorsed 10 bipartisan artificial intelligence (AI) bills on issues surrounding the workforce, elections and privacy, the group of House members announced Thursday.  

Some of the bills backed by the House coalition would direct agencies to study AI systems or boost research, but others include more direct requirements about how AI can be used.  

“Artificial Intelligence is the next great frontier of technological innovation, presenting both revolutionary opportunities and new, unique challenges. To safely and effectively harness the promise of AI, Congress must play a role in educating and preparing the workforce, consumers, and the economy at large,” said Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), the chair of the coalition’s AI working group, in a statement.  

“The bills we are endorsing today aim to do just that. The 10 bipartisan New Dem-led bills address consumer protection and privacy concerns, risks to our democracy, threats to the workforce, and more,” Kilmer added. 

One of the bills the coalition endorsed is the Protect Elections From Deceptive AI Act, which would prohibit the distribution of deceptive AI-generated audio, images or videos in political advertising. A Senate version of the bill advanced out of the Senate Rules Committee last week.

The coalition also backed the Preparing Election Administrators for AI Act, which would direct the Election Assistance Commission to issue a report with guidelines to address the risks of AI in election administration. A Senate version also advanced out of the Rules Committee last week.  

The backing of the slate of AI bills from the group of House Democrats comes as the Senate has pushed forward on regulating AI in the past two weeks.  

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday urged Senate committee chairs to advance AI bills, after releasing guidance on regulation in a bipartisan report last week that was the result of a series of AI forums featuring civil society leaders, researchers and tech company executives.  

The House has been slower to act on AI than the Senate, though neither chamber has passed AI bills.  

The House launched a bipartisan task force centered on AI in February.