Tech bills of the week: Creating a Congressional Office of Technology; Enhancing data center transparency; and more

Standing up a Congressional Office of Technology

House lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill on Thursday to establish an independent Congressional Office of Technology that can provide the legislative branch with unbiased information about the impacts of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. 

The legislation — introduced by Reps. Mark Takano, D-Calif., Sean Casten, D-Ill., Bill Foster, D-Ill., Don Beyer, D-Va., and Jay Obernolte, R-Calif. — would revise and upgrade what was once the congressional Office of Technology Assessment, which operated from 1974 to 1995.

“Congress cannot continue flying blind into the future. We must have an office of independent experts as we face important decisions to guide emerging technology,” Takano said in a statement. “Establishing the Congressional Office of Technology will enable Members of Congress to work with experts across disciplines, receive informed and unbiased feedback on legislation, and gain detailed understandings of the issues that will impact our nation. I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation alongside my colleagues who share my commitment to independent scientific expertise.”

Requiring disclosures about data center development

Legislation introduced by Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., on Thursday looks to enhance transparency around data center development by requiring involved companies to publicly disclose information on their ownership, resource consumption and the potential impact of the facilities on the surrounding communities.

The proposal would require that data center operators behind current and proposed facilities submit this information to the Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration for collection and reporting. Companies would have to report on questions about their expected energy and water usage, if they have signed non-disclosure agreements with government officials and whether their facilities are located “within 1,000 feet of a school, national park, hospital, or home.”

Operators who fail to disclose the required information or submit misleading or incomplete responses would be subjected to fines of as much as $1 million per day. 

“As data centers continue to expand across Virginia, the public needs clear, reliable information on how they impact local communities, infrastructure, and household costs,” Vindman said in a statement. “My legislation will shine a light on this rapidly growing industry, hold companies accountable, and give Virginians the information they need to make informed decisions about data center development.”

Enhancing the cybersecurity of cloud environments

Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., introduced a measure on Monday that calls for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop “new standards, methodologies, and recommendations” to help strengthen the cybersecurity of cloud-based infrastructure.

The proposal calls, in part, for upgrading FedRAMP “to align with new cloud security standards and strengthen cybersecurity disclosures for federal cloud providers.” The bill also encourages the use of artificial intelligence tools to detect unusual cyber activity within cloud environments and would establish a voluntary “Cloud Security Certification Program” through accredited testing labs. 

“From our financial information and medical records to our national security and critical infrastructure, our most sensitive information is stored and accessed through cloud-based systems,” McCormick said in a statement. “Our adversaries, including China, are constantly looking for ways to exploit vulnerabilities, launch cyberattacks, and steal sensitive American information. We cannot afford to leave Americans exposed to these threats.”

Improving the nation’s emergency alert system

Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-Calif., introduced a measure on Thursday that looks to enhance the nation’s emergency alert system by directing the Federal Communications Commission to craft “metrics, goals, and minimum requirements” for wireless emergency alerts.

The required performance metrics include tracking speed, coverage and geographic targeting of issued alerts. The FCC would also be directed to assess the use of enhanced capabilities including “more precise geotargeting, longer alert messages, multilingual alerts, and device compatibility,” as well as require that wireless providers better label emergency alerts.

Mullin said he introduced the legislation “because the federal government needs to improve the Wireless Emergency Alert system so that communities can trust they’ll receive timely and accurate information when they need it most.”

Combatting human traffickers’ use of AI

Rep. James Gallagher, R-Calif., rolled out legislation on Thursday that directs the State Department to evaluate “whether its Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons has access to the specialized technical expertise necessary to identify and respond to these evolving threats.”

The proposal comes after officials have raised concerns about the role artificial intelligence can play in driving human trafficking, including in a 2025 State report that warned that emerging technologies can be used to automate and expand victim grooming. 

“Human traffickers are using new technology to prey on innocent children, and we cannot allow the federal government to fall behind,” Gallagher said in a statement, adding that “we need to make sure the people responsible for combating trafficking have the expertise necessary to recognize these threats and help stop them.”