REPS LIEU AND OBERNOLTE INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADVANCE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP IN AI

April 27, 2026

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), former heads of the Bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Task Force, introduced The American Leadership in AI Act, which brings together over 20 bipartisan legislative proposals that seek to act on many of the recommendations from the report issued last Congress by the Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence.

This legislation will strengthen U.S. leadership in AI by improving AI standards and evaluation, expanding research infrastructure and R&D, modernizing federal AI adoption and risk management, supporting workers and small businesses, addressing AI-enabled crimes, and expanding AI education and workforce opportunities.

“Last Congress, the Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence brought together 24 Members of Congress from across 20 House committees to examine a wide range of policy challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence,” Reps. Lieu and Obernolte said. “The Task Force conducted numerous stakeholder discussions and roundtables, engaging with more than 100 experts from industry, academia, government, and civil society to develop a broad set of recommendations. As the Task Force’s Republican and Democratic leaders, we are pleased to introduce a legislative package grounded in that work. The American Leadership in AI Act builds on the strong bipartisan foundation already laid by our colleagues, incorporating and advancing bipartisan legislation previously introduced by Members across the House. By unifying these efforts, this package reflects the thoughtful, consensus-driven work already underway and translates it into a cohesive strategy to strengthen U.S. leadership in AI. At a time of deep political division, this package demonstrates that serious, forward-looking policymaking is still possible. We look forward to continuing to work with our former Task Force colleagues and others to advance these bipartisan solutions.”

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Background on The American Leadership in AI Act

The American Leadership in AI Act brings together more than 20 bipartisan proposals to implement key recommendations from the Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence report issued last Congress. The bill is designed to strengthen U.S. leadership in AI while promoting responsible innovation and safeguarding the public.

Key Objectives

Strengthen our capacity to measure and evaluate AI

Advances voluntary standards, testing frameworks, and evaluation tools
Increases U.S. leadership in international standards-setting to help shape global AI standards and specifications
Directs the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) to identify and promote best practices for transparency, safety, security, and performance

Build research infrastructure and drive innovation

Expands access to shared research resources
Supports collaboration across academia, industry, and government
Promotes ambitious, mission-driven research through competitive initiatives across critical sectors

Modernize federal AI governance, procurement, and security

Enhances government’s ability to track and respond to AI-related vulnerabilities
Updates how federal agencies govern and deploy AI
Promotes consistent adoption of risk-management frameworks

Expand AI education and protect the workforce

Invests in education and training programs to develop AI talent
Supports ongoing research on AI’s impact on the labor market
Strengthens the talent pipeline and promotes key sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, and cybersecurity

Safeguard Americans and deter harmful deepfakes

Strengthens safeguards to deter AI-enabled crime
Enhances legal remedies to deepfake victims and increases penalties for AI-enabled fraud and impersonation
Supports whistleblowers who expose AI-related risks and misconduct

More on the 118th Congress's AI Task Force

In February 2024, Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries established a bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to explore how Congress can ensure America continues to lead the world in AI innovation while considering guardrails that may be appropriate to safeguard the nation against current and emerging threats.

Membership:

Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Co-Chair
Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-16)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09)
Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11)
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06)
Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)
Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11)
Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51)
Rep. Valerie Foushee (NC-04)
Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07)

Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Chair
Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-48)
Rep. French Hill (AR-02)
Rep. Michael Cloud (TX-27)
Rep. Neal Dunn (FL-02)
Rep. Ben Cline (VA-06)
Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03)
Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-18)
Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-45)
Rep. Eric Burlison (MO-07)
Rep. Laurel Lee (FL-15)
Rep. Rich McCormick (GA-06)

Issues: Artificial Intelligence