Ranking Member Lofgren's Opening Statement at Full Committee Markup of 10 AI Bills

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is holding a Full Committee Markup of H.R. 9341, AI-Ready Federal Data Guidelines Act(link is external), H.R. 9363, AI Security and Innovation Act(link is external), H.R. 2385, CREATE AI Act(link is external), H.R. 5351, NSF AI Education Act of 2025(link is external), H.R. 5584, LIFT AI Act(link is external), H.R. 6461, READ AI Models Act(link is external), H.R. 8893, Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act(link is external), H.R. 9333, AI Flaw Reporting and Security Enhancement Act(link is external), H.R. 9334, Workforce for AI Trust Act(link is external), H.R. 9372, Data Infrastructure Energy Measurement and Standards Act(link is external).

Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren's (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below:

Thank you, Chairman Babin. We have many bills to get through so I will be brief. The pieces of legislation before us are focused on the challenges and opportunities presented by the widespread adoption of Artificial Intelligence technology. This Committee as well as last Congress's Bipartisan AI Taskforce have explored in depth both the challenges and opportunities associated with AI. These bills thoughtfully recognize and address the nuance and complexity around these issues.

The first bill on the roster is the AI Ready Data Guidance Act introduced by Chairman Babin, whom I joined as Co-sponsor. I will speak on this bill when it is called up shortly.

The next bill on the roster is the AI Security and Innovation Act, introduced by Representatives Obernolte, Foushee, and Chairman Babin. This critical legislation would statutorily establish the Center for AI Security and Innovation, a bipartisan initiative to measure risks of advanced AI systems, support information exchange, and support AI research and evaluation.

The next bill on the roster is the "CREATE AI Act," which was originally introduced by my friend and former colleague from California, Ms. Eshoo, but now is sponsored by another Californian - Mr. Obernolte. This bill was ready for the finish line last congress, and I am looking forward to finally moving the National AI Initiative beyond its pilot phase and into full programmatic implementation with the passage of this bill.

Then we will consider the NSF Artificial Intelligence Education Act, sponsored by Mr. Fong and Ms. Salinas. This bill directs NSF to create and maintain AI learning initiatives and workforce training programs, including opportunities for students pursuing a focus in AI education. It will also serve to fund the National AI Initiative.

Moving on to the Literacy in Future Technologies Act, or the "LIFT" Act, brought to us by Mr. Kean and Mr. Amo. This bill authorizes NSF to create AI educational tools, curricula, and teacher development opportunities for grades K through 12.

Ms. McBride and Mr. Obernolte introduced our next bill, the READ AI Models Act. There is wide variation in how AI models are documented, which can present challenges to consumers when they seek to make comparisons. This bill will direct NIST to develop guidance that will help businesses overcome these challenges.

The next bill on the roster is the Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act. This bill will create taskforces that will lead to the development of standards that counter malicious uses of generative AI that have been used to defraud people. I thank Representative Foushee and Delegate Moylan for their thoughtful legislation.

We will then consider the AI Flaw Incident Reporting and Security Enhancement Act sponsored by Ms. Ross and Mr. Hurd. NIST currently addresses cybersecurity vulnerabilities through its operation of the National Vulnerability Database. This bill requires NIST to develop a similar database for AI flaws that present both security and safety risks.

Next is my bill, the Workforce for AI Trust Act, which is cosponsored by Chairman Lucas. I will speak more on this bill when it is called up for consideration.

Lastly, we have Mr. Subramanyam's Data Infrastructure Energy Measurement and Standards Act. The growth of AI has accelerated the demand for data centers to handle computing. We know these data centers consume vast quantities of water and energy. But there is a significant need for new metrics to understand how data centers are using these precious resources and therefore how to design and build them more efficiently. We are in the middle of an affordability crisis, so this legislation directs the NIST and DOE, to develop best practices and technical standards for measuring data center energy and water use.

These are all smart and essential bills that reflect the bipartisan, future-looking nature of this committee. I thank all of the sponsors of these bills. I appreciate your hard work and collaboration. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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