Congress

Republican legislators voice support for public funding in AI research

The senators advocated for continued federal investment in artificial intelligence research and development, along with nimble regulation and industry collaboration.

House AI Task Force member optimistic Congress will move on group’s recs later this year

The bipartisan House AI Task Force’s recommendations provide “a great running start” for Congress to establish guardrails around the safe use of emerging technologies, the lawmaker said.

Senators urge DHS to reinstate disbanded cyber review board

The board — which was dismissed at the start of the Trump administration — has been viewed as a well-intentioned but imperfect tool for reviewing significant cybersecurity events.

NVIDIA to keep Shanghai operations despite lawmaker concerns

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang said that the chip company will continue its longstanding China-based operations, but more chip plants are set to be in the U.S.

Trump cyber nominees expected to testify next week, people familiar say

An unreleased telecom vulnerabilities report is being used as leverage to block one of the nominees from full confirmation in the Senate.

Proposed moratorium on state-level AI regs aims to level the playing field, lawmaker says

Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick, a GOP member of last Congress’ House AI Task Force, spoke on Wednesday night about the need to avoid a jumble of different rules of the road for AI developers.

Gerry Connolly remembered for his passion and bipartisanship

The long-time representative from Northern Virginia has died at 75 following a battle with cancer. He is being remembered for his advocacy of federal workers and the contractor community as well as championing initiatives to improve how the government buys goods and services.

House bill wants VA to pilot cloud-based medical supply management system

The bipartisan proposal from Reps. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., would direct the agency to test the system at one VA medical facility before potentially expanding it out further.

VA hopes to use next year’s EHR rollouts to gain momentum for faster deployments

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins said VA is hoping to deploy its new EHR system at 20 to 25 new medical facilities in 2027 as it pursues an accelerated deployment timeline.

Industry reps urge Congress to renew backbone cyber information-sharing law

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, a keystone ordinance that lets the private sector share cyber threat information with legal safeguards, expires in September unless renewed by Congress.

House budget bill would put 10-year pause on state AI regulation

The bill before the House Energy and Commerce Committee under the budget reconciliation process would prevent states from enforcing “any law or regulation” for AI models. It may run afoul of Senate rules.

Republicans want Treasury to study free tax filing options — again

The reconciliation text being considered by the House Ways and Means Committee includes $15 million for the IRS to study how to give Americans free ways to file their taxes that would replace both the Free File and Direct File programs.

Reconciliation text includes $500 million for modernization and AI at Commerce

The text also includes a prohibition on state-level enforcement of AI laws and regulations.

Senate Dems press HHS over cuts to suicide lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth program

A leaked HHS FY26 budget proposal includes a measure to defund the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services pilot program.

US dominance in AI needs to occur at every component layer, tech leaders say

Experts testifying in the Senate on Thursday noted how the entire artificial intelligence technology stack needs to be U.S.-led for global dominance in the field.

House appropriators question justification for proposed CISA budget cuts

CISA’s $3 billion budget would see a $491 million cut from what it received in fiscal year 2025. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle wanted more detail on the rationale.

Industry leaders stress need for National Quantum Reauthorization Act passage

Major tech players hoping to scale their quantum technologies for the commercial market told Congress that the NQI Reauthorization Act is “critical” to these efforts, citing its promotion of partnerships and agency funding.