In Seattle, Murray Highlights Urgent Need to Deploy AI Safely, Transparently, and to Benefit Working People; Murray Says Pro-Worker, Pro-Family Policies Don’t Have to Wait

Senator Murray reiterates that even as we are still working to understand how AI will change the future of work, Congress should pass a pro-worker, pro-family legislative agenda now-emphasizing that there is no need to delay on policies like national paid leave, universal health care, affordable child care, and stronger labor laws

Murray has opposed the Trump administration's efforts to stamp out state-level regulations of AI

*** SEN. MURRAY'S REMARKS HERE***

*** PHOTOS, AND B-ROLL HERE***

Seattle, WA - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) hosted a roundtable discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) in Seattle focused on how leaders can work to deploy AI safely, transparently, and in a way that benefits working people-not just giant corporations and billionaires. At the roundtable, Senator Murray spoke with leading AI experts about the challenges and opportunities associated with AI.
Senator Murray made clear that while policymakers can't yet predict exactly how AI will change our economy and how we work, there is no reason for Congress to delay in passing so many of Murray's longstanding legislative priorities that would benefit working people like stronger labor laws and enforcement, national paid leave, universal health care, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, affordable child care for every working family, and much more.

Joining Senator Murray for the discussion today were: Alexandra Holien, Interim CEO at ADA Developers Academy; Professor Noah Smith, Vice Provost for AI at the University of Washington; Cherika Carter, Secretary Treasurer at the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Yifan Zhang, Managing Director at the AI House; Professor Franziska Roesner, Professor, University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering; Chad Kruger, Associate Vice President for Research Advancement and Strategy at Washington State University; and Gretchen Peri, State Chief Technology Officer at Washington Technology Solutions.

"I'm not here today with a stack of AI bills to sign. This technology is still taking shape, and anyone who tells you they've got it all figured out isn't being straight with the American people," said Senator Murray. "But here's the thing: we do not have to wait to find out exactly how AI impacts our economy to understand what workers need right now. I have pushed a legislative agenda that puts working families first in our economy for a long time. I am hopeful that as we stare down this new technology, there will be a growing sense of urgency to strengthen the American social safety net-now. We need a national paid leave policy, universal health care, child care every working family can afford, the freedom to join a union, and strong labor laws and strong enforcement. These are things we can do right now to steady the ground under workers."

"At Washington State University, AI is a cornerstone of our work as a future ready land grant university," said Chad Kruger, Associate Vice President for Research Advancement and Strategy. "WSU researchers are applying AI to real-world challenges in agriculture, rural health care, energy resilience, sustainable aquaculture and fisheries, and rural education. Backed by more than $72 million in AI and machine learning research, WSU is helping position Washington as a leader in responsible, community focused innovation. We appreciate Senator Murray's leadership in bringing folks together today to help ensure AI's future remains focused on the public good, creating healthier communities, stronger industries, and greater opportunity for the people across our state."

"Size is no longer an advantage in the age of AI-it can actually be a disadvantage," said Yifan Zhang Managing Director, AI House. "The places that help founders, startups, and Small Tech thrive will be where AI creates the most jobs, innovation, and opportunity."

"Artificial intelligence is reshaping how governments serve the public, and we have a responsibility to ensure that transformation is safe, transparent, and equitable," said Gretchen Peri, State Chief Technology Officer at Washington Technology Solutions. "In Washington state, we're focused on accelerating innovation while strengthening the guardrails needed for public trust. Our focus is on practical, transparent, and equitable implementation: building workforce readiness, improving data foundations, and supporting agencies with approved tools, guidance, and repeatable practices that scale what works to protect privacy, and expand opportunity for every community. I appreciate Senator Murray bringing leaders together to elevate this conversation. Our commitment is to an AI future that strengthens services, enhances operations, supports our workforce, and protects the rights and trust of the people we serve."

As vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray negotiated the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2026, which is currently the largest federal investment in AI standards and testing ever passed through a CJS bill. The CJS bill includes $1.8 billion for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) overall, an increase of $690 million over last year's funding level. This includes no less than $55 million for AI research, an increase of $20 million, and up to $10 million for NIST's Center for AI Standards and Innovation to advance AI research, standards, and testing. Senator Murray fiercely defended science agencies from President Trump's proposed reductions, which threatened to cut NIST by more than 28 percent.

Senator Murray also played a key role in helping to pass the bipartisan Chips and Science Act which makes historic investments in American manufacturing, and research and development. The bill included AI scholarships through NSF, funding for the Department of Energy's research and development on AI and machine learning, support for NIST's work on AI and quantum information science, and resources for the creation of a NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships which will focus on domestic development of AI and other quantum computing.

Senator Murray has also been outspoken against President Trump's efforts to ban states from regulating AI. She recently introduced legislation to halt the A.I.-Driven Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) model which is overruling doctors and delaying care for Medicare beneficiaries.

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