TechNet Announces Support for Seven Artificial Intelligence Bills

Legislative Proposals Focus on Strengthening AI Research, Democratizing Access, Improving Workforce Development, and Combating Misuse and Deep Fakes

Washington, D.C. - TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, today announced its support for seven federal AI bills. TechNet President and CEO Linda Moore made the following statement:

"AI has the potential to help us solve some of the greatest challenges of our time and it's imperative that we ensure its responsible development. TechNet is endorsing these bipartisan proposals to support the next generation of AI entrepreneurs, bolster our workforce, strengthen AI research, support NIST, and help prevent misuse and deepfakes.

"The U.S. must be the global leader in AI investment, development, and deployment to ensure it is implemented safely across the world. By moving forward with proposals like these, Congress will expand innovation and opportunity beyond Silicon Valley and keep America at the forefront of scientific development for generations to come. We look forward to working with lawmakers to ensure America wins the next era of innovation and remains the world's leader in AI.

"TechNet continues to monitor over 130 AI-related bills in Congress. We are committed to collaborating with policymakers on these priorities and addressing other key AI topics in this Congress and the next. Our goal remains to advocate for policies that foster responsible AI advancement while safeguarding against potential harm from malicious actors."

TechNet endorsed:

• Creating Resources for Every American To Experiment with ArtificialIntelligence Act of 2023 or the CREATE AI Act of 2023 (2714 & H.R.5077) - Introduced by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), this bill would create the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR). The NAIRR would provide advanced computing resources and datasets to democratize AI research.
• AI Grand Challenges Act of 2024 (4236) - Introduced by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), this bill would establish a program awarding competitive prizes for AI research to tackle key societal challenges such as national security, health, energy, and more.
• Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act (4596) - Introduced by Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), this bill would direct the Secretary of Commerce to lead a public awareness campaign to inform Americans about the benefits, risks, and prevalence of AI in daily life.
• Technology Workforce Framework Act of 2024 (3792) - Introduced by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), this bill directs NIST to develop a comprehensive workforce framework for AI, identifying necessary skills and knowledge for jobs in emerging technologies to assist educators and employers in preparing for the modern workforce.
• Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness (EPIC) Act (R.8673 & S.4639) - Introduced by Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), this bill would establish the Foundation for Standards and Metrology (FSM) to support NIST. As a non-profit foundation, FSM will facilitate NIST's access to philanthropic funding, fostering collaborations with industry, non-profits, and academia.
• Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakeson Websites and Networks Act or the TAKE IT DOWN Act (4569 & H.R.8989) - Introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL), this bill mandates that covered platforms remove non-consensual intimate visual depictions of identifiable individuals, whether genuine or AI-generated.
• NSF AI Education Act (4394 & H.R. 9402) - Introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA), this bill would expand NSF scholarship and professional development opportunities to study AI.