MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

MIAMI, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, will host his annual Service Academy Day on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. at U.S. Southern Command:

On this day, representatives from the U.S. Naval, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Military, U.S. Merchant Marine, and U.S. Coast Guard Academies will meet with and inform prospective students about educational and career opportunities at the service academies.

Event Details:

RSVP is required due to security restrictions. A valid government ID and media credentials must be presented at the checkpoint for admittance. Please RSVP to Dietwin Smoli.

WHAT:

Service Academy Day

WHO:

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26)

Representatives from the United States Service Academies

WHEN:

Saturday, September 19, 2026

8:30 a.m. ET

WHERE:

U.S. Southern Command

9301 NW 33rd Street

Doral, FL 33172

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)

Guthrie-Cosponsored Bill to Protect American Seniors from Fraud Passes House

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswomen Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), and Ashley Hinson (IA-02), alongside Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing September 19, 2026, as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day.

In acknowledgment of the work that needs to be done, and mark the progress made since theMaternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act passed into law, Congresswomen Adams and Hinson, held a briefing inside the Capitol Building today. Advocates, medical professionals, policy leaders, and parents came to discuss clinical innovations in stillbirth prevention and urge support for the National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day resolution.

“It has already taken way too long for Congress to wake up to the tragedy that is our country’s stillbirth crisis,” said Congresswoman Adams, co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “We have made some great progress, but there is so much more to be done. We already have many innovative solutions to reduce stillbirth — our country just hasn’t invested in them at a national scale. We can, and we must do better for our moms.”

“Improving prenatal education and access to maternal care — especially in rural areas where women may travel over an hour to see a provider — is critical to protecting babies and reducing maternal deaths,” said Congresswoman Ashley Hinson. “Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was a major step, but more must be done to support expecting moms and prevent stillbirths. I’m proud to reintroduce this resolution recognizing September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day and will continue working across the aisle to end the tragedy of stillbirth.” 

“Nearly five thousand babies’ lives could be saved annually through greater focus on stillbirth prevention efforts,” said Healthy Birth Day CEO, Emily Price. “National Stillbirth Prevention & Awareness Day is an opportunity to address the urgent stillbirth crisis in the U.S. and share free resources and tools like Count the Kicks which are saving lives. Our message to the country: it doesn’t have to be this way.”

The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act, bipartisan legislationsigned into law in July 2024, clarified that Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant funds could be used to support stillbirth prevention activities and research. This year, Congresswomen Adams and Hinson secured $1 million in a Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bill for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide ongoing assistance to support states’ stillbirth prevention activities.

Medical advances over the last 30 years have led to a decline in late term stillbirths, but the rate of decline is slowing. Stillbirth remains a significant public health crisis in the United States, with tens of thousands of families affected each year and Black, Native, and Hispanic communities experiencing disproportionately higher rates. Research suggests a substantial share of stillbirths may be preventable through improved awareness, screening, and access to care.

“Every parent who experiences a stillbirth deserves support and clear action. Stillbirth remains a heartbreaking and preventable public health crisis, with Black, Native, and Hispanic families facing disproportionately high rates of loss,” said Senator Merkley.“Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was an important first step, but we cannot let up. This National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day, we must keep pushing for necessary action to save lives and spare families this devastating loss.”

 

“Every year, more than 20,000 families in the United States experience a stillbirth, and too many of these losses may be preventable,” said Senator Booker. “Losing a baby to stillbirth is devastating, and on National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day, we stand with the families who have experienced this profound loss and recommit ourselves to preventing stillbirth wherever possible. By investing in research, improving data collection, raising awareness, and strengthening access to high-quality maternal health care, we can better understand the causes of stillbirth, reduce preventable losses, and support healthier pregnancies.”

 

“No family should have to endure the heartbreak of a stillbirth. While states like Iowa have made progress at reducing stillbirths, there’s still much more to be done to strengthen maternal healthcare, especially in rural areas, to help prevent these tragedies. Our bipartisan resolution raises awareness and promotes research to help target contributing factors and save babies’ lives,” said Senator Grassley.

National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day serves as an opportunity to recognize affected families, highlight the work of advocacy organizations, and reinforce the need for sustained federal investment in stillbirth prevention efforts and maternal and child health research and services.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — Last night, Speaker Johnson held a press conference alongside Rep. Gabe Evans (CO-08) following House passage of the Ratepayer Protection Act, the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, and legislation to further Republicans war on fraud and overturn costly, Biden-era EPA mandates. Speaker Johnson highlighted Republicans’ record of success in the 119th Congress as Republicans return to their districts before the midterm election.

“This is record over rhetoric. We have better candidates, we have a great story to tell and to remind people that what’s best for you and your family and your aging parents and your young children and the future of liberty and opportunity security is the party that has been delivering on all those things,” Speaker Johnson said. “You cannot put the far left in charge of the American government in this very pivotal and historic moment on the 250th anniversary of the greatest nation in the history of the world.”

 

Watch Speaker Johnson’s remarks here

On House GOP achievements in the 119th Congress:

We gave the largest middle- and working-class tax cut in US history. We established Trump Accounts so that every American child has a financial stake in the future of this country. We implemented powerful new incentives to build and hire American; that’s the America First Agenda. The biggest boost to American businesses in decades. And we’re talking about shipyards and plants and factories all coming back home. They’re bringing tens of thousands of good paying jobs with them. We restored safety and order to our cities.

Violent crime, the murder rate for example, has plummeted to a 126-year low. We have far fewer Americans dying from the scourge of fentanyl in our communities that had flooded over the border under the Biden-Harris years and onto our college campuses and the streets of so many towns in this country. Last but not least, we closed the border. Illegal crossings are at zero, and they have been for over 15 months. Cartels and criminals are going to jail where they belong after four years of absolute anarchy under Joe Biden’s open border policy. That is Republicans’ proven agenda of results, and there’s so much more. And by the way, every Democrat voted against everything I just recounted for you.

On the 70+ bills House Republicans passed this week:

We just finished voting on several bills that are really of critical importance to the American people. One of them was the Ratepayer Protection Act, and that ensures, of course, that Americans will not foot the bill for the build out of data centers or AI infrastructure anywhere in their communities. Notice how quiet Democrats are now that Republicans are taking action on all this. We also passed the Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. This strengthens economic sanctions against Russia to put maximum pressure on Vladimir Putin’s war machine. It’s the most significant international action taken so far to bring the unjust war to an end over there. The House has passed over 70 bills this week alone. That adds to our large total, over 900 bills passed through the House so far this Congress. About 700 of them are parked in awaiting action in the Senate right now. And so the House has done its job here. We’re on a 48-hour notice to return as necessary. So, we’re very hopeful that our colleagues in the Senate can send us bills of substance over here so that we can continue to move that along through the process and get bills to the President’s desk. We’re awaiting that action. So House Republicans are going now back to our districts, and we’re going to make the case to the American people on what we have delivered on their behalf.

On the radical candidates Democrats are embracing nationwide:

Democrats are running the most radical class of candidates in the history of their party. And as RFK Jr., as Bobby Kennedy said at the Republican convention in Dallas just last week, this is not his father and his uncle JFK’s Democrat Party anymore. It’s a radical group. This is the most radical class of candidates ever. You’ve got Abdul El-Sayed, you’ve got Darializa Avila Chevalier, you’ve got William Lawrence and Milat Kiros, just a small cross section of the cultural arsonists that Democrats have nominated to serve in the US Congress. Again, don’t take my word for it, look at what they’ve published in their platform.

They want to abolish the border. They want to abolish prisons. They want to abolish the Senate, destroy the Supreme Court, destroy the nuclear family that they have disdain for, and embrace an ideology that has been responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of innocent people in the 20th century alone. If Democrats are successful in electing all these radicals, I’m going to be administering the oath to people who are actually avowed as communists in January when we begin the new Congress. It will be the first time in US history that we’ve administered an oath to people who want to shred the U.S. Constitution. It will be a very interesting time for our country and a very scary time. And that should frighten every American who loves this country.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Introduces Resolution Honoring Gold Star Families

Press Release 
For Immediate Release: September 17, 2026
Contact: Max Willens, (202) 738-7716

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) introduced a bipartisan resolution in the House of Representatives designating the week of September 20-26, 2026, as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week.   

“Gold Star Families are living reminders that there is a price for the freedom we enjoy every day. The families of these brave men and women have suffered and paid the ultimate price so that others will not.” said Rep. Newhouse. 

Newhouse added, “To honor those lost and those still here, we dedicate Gold Star Remembrance week. My colleagues and I send our gratitude to the thousands of families who keep the memories of their loved ones alive through sharing stories and continue to honor the bravery of those who lost their lives in service to our great Nation.”

A Gold Star Family is a family who has lost an immediate family member while serving on active duty in the armed services of the United States.   

Rep. Newhouse was joined by 52 of his colleagues in introducing the resolution to honor these families across the country. Original cosponsors include: 

Reps. Tim Moore (NC-14), Wesley Hunt (TX- 38), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Michael Lawler (NY-17), Jack Moolenaar (MI-02), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Jeff Hurd (CO-03), Michael Simpson (ID-02), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Glenn Thompson (PA-15), Andy Barr (KY-06), Don Bacon (NE-02), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David P. Joyce (OH-14),Tim Walberg (MI-05), Tom Barrett (MI-07), Tracey Mann (KS-01),John W. Rose (TN-06), Zachary Nunn (IA-03), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Young Kim (CA-40), David G. Valadao (CA-22), Robert J. Wittman (VA-01), Richard Hudson (NC-09), Mike Carey (OH-15), Matt Van Epps (TN-07), Cory Mills (FL-07), Clay Fuller (GA-14), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), John J. McGuire III (VA-05), August Pfluger (TX-11), Michael A. Rulli (OH-06), Christopher H. Smith (NJ-04), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Mark B. Messmer (IN-08), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Julia Letlow (LA-05), Stephanie I. Bice (OK-05), Neal P. Dunn (FL-02), Brian J. Mast (FL-21), Robert P. Bresnahan Jr. (PA-08), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Mark Alford (MO-04), Trent Kelly (MS-01), Michael Guest (MS-03), Addison P. McDowell (NC-06), Mike Kelly (PA-16), and Randy Feenstra (IA-04).

 The full text of the resolution can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of the Ratepayer Protection Act to protect Missouri families from bearing the burden of increased costs for energy and grid upgrades required for the development of new data centers. The legislation was passed by the House of Representatives with a bipartisan majority. 

The Ratepayer Protection Act requires state utility regulators to establish rules to ensure that community members do not pay for the costs of building new power generation, transmission lines, and other upgrades to serve large-load customers, including data centers. Without proper safeguards, families and small businesses in communities where data center development occurs could see higher electricity bills at the end of every month.

“At a time when Missouri families are already struggling to stay afloat, they should not have to bear the costs of data center development in the form of higher energy bills at the end of every month,” said Congressman Cleaver. “This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense step to ensure that burden falls on the corporations building these projects, not the people of Missouri’s Fifth District. However, I know there is more that Congress must do to protect the American people, which is why I will continue pushing for stronger safeguards that ensure Silicon Valley CEOs are not taking advantage of our communities.”

The Ratepayer Protection Act would propose standards that state regulators could enforce when considering the integration of new large-load customers with a demand of 100 megawatts or more onto the grid. Those recommendations include:

• Recovery of the full incremental cost of upgrades by the large-load customer over a long period of time through a special rate charge or other agreements. This protects utilities and their ratepayers from being left responsible for upgrade costs associated with a large-load customer, even if that customer later reduces operations or leaves the system entirely.
• Financial assurances that require the large load customer to pay for any generation, transmission, or other infrastructure necessary to serve their load, protecting utilities and ratepayers from that financial burden. This ensures large-load customers are responsible for the fixed costs associated with serving their demand rather than passing those costs on to families and businesses through higher monthly electricity bills.

Official text of the Ratepayer Protection Act is available here.

 

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) joined a bipartisan letter led by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth with all members of the Illinois delegation urging the White House to grant Governor JB Pritzker’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration authorizing federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), to help Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion, and Will Counties recover from severe storm damage.  During the period of August 11-16, severe storms—including tornadoes, straight-line winds, and a derecho—crossed the state, resulting in serious damage to Illinoisans’ homes and businesses.

Today’s letter comes after the Trump Administration twice rejected FEMA aid for Illinois storm victims impacted by severe weather in summer 2025.  The Trump Administration offered no serious justification for the repeated rejections.  In their letter, the lawmakers request immediate support for Illinois for August’s storms, emphasizing that the severity of damage justifies swift assistance from the federal government.  Notably, FEMA has already approved a major disaster declaration request from the Indiana state government for the same storm system, which swept through both Illinois and Indiana in August.

“We write in support of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s request for federal assistance for the State of Illinois to help eight Illinois counties recover from severe storm damage that occurred from August 11-16, 2026,” wrote the lawmakers.

“Governor Pritzker has indicated that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and local governments. We support his request for authorization of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance (IA) and Public Assistance (PA)in the impacted counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide. Additionally, we support his request for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) physical and economic injury disaster declaration for the affected counties. This would enable low interest SBA disaster loans, including physical and economic injury loans, to support affected individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations,” the lawmakers wrote. 

“The initial weather system on August 11 resulted in a derecho across Northern Illinois, producing widespread winds of 70 mph and eight tornadoes with peak winds near 115 mph. Follow-on storms repeatedly struck the same regions with severe weather, exacerbating the wind damage and resulting in historic levels of rainfall in some counties. All eight counties experienced significant damage from downed trees, power outages, and flooding,” the lawmakers wrote.  “Subsequent damage has impacted homeowners, businesses, roadways, and infrastructure. As such, the Governor seeks timely federal assistance from FEMA and SBA.”

Full text of the letter is available here and below: 

Dear Mr. President:

We write in support of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s request for federal assistance for the State of Illinois to help eight Illinois counties recover from severe storm damage that occurred from August 11-16, 2026. Specifically, he requests a Major Disaster Declaration for Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion, and Will Counties.

Governor Pritzker has indicated that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and local governments. We support his request for authorization of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance (IA) and Public Assistance (PA)in the impacted counties, and Hazard Mitigation statewide. Additionally, we support his request for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) physical and economic injury disaster declaration for the affected counties. This would enable low interest SBA disaster loans, including physical and economic injury loans, to support affected individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations.

During the August 11-16, 2026, period, a multi-day severe weather episode passed through Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion, and Will Counties, resulting in multiple rounds of severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding. The initial weather system on August 11 resulted in a derecho across Northern Illinois, producing widespread winds of 70 mph and eight tornadoes with peak winds near 115 mph. Follow-on storms repeatedly struck the same regions with severe weather, exacerbating the wind damage and resulting in historic levels of rainfall in some counties. All eight counties experienced significant damage from downed trees, power outages, and flooding. Subsequent damage has impacted homeowners, businesses, roadways, and infrastructure. As such, the Governor seeks timely federal assistance from FEMA and SBA.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this important request. We stand ready to assist in any way appropriate.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, DC [9/17/26] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced the Transforming Education for the Future Act, comprehensive legislation to modernize the K-12 education system and create a better future for students and families. 

The American education system has experienced significant turbulence during the past decade, including the mismanagement and dismantling of the Department of Education, devastating effects of COVID-19, increased use of devices and social media, the rise of generative AI, and undermining of federal support for public schools. The Transforming Education for the Future Act provides the framework to address these critical issues and more. The legislation is the result of months of stakeholder outreach and member engagement.

Bonamici outlined her plan on the House floor. The video can be found here.

“For decades, public schools have been asked to do more with less. Add to that the fact that we have seen many new and complicated challenges over the past ten years,” Bonamici said on the House floor. “…Circumstances have changed, but the American system of public education has not yet adapted. We need a public education system that meets the moment for today’s students and tomorrow’s. We need an education system that prepares students not to pass a test, but to think critically and build a future. We need to support the educators who make that possible. And we need to remove those barriers that stand between children and opportunity. The Transforming Education for the Future Act is a blueprint for doing just that.”

The full text of the legislation can be found here. A summary of the legislation can be found here. The Transforming Education for the Future Act will: 

• Emphasize a Well-Rounded Education for All Students
  • Fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) so children with disabilities get the free and appropriate education and services they need and deserve.
  • Promote hands-on project-based learning and inspire creativity and critical thinking by expanding access to career and technical education, arts, civics, humanities, and more.
  • Reduce state and federal reliance on standardized test scores and expand the use of multiple high-quality measures to capture a more accurate picture of student achievement.

• Support Educators and Learning
  • Enact policies to address discrimination and bias in K-12 schools, uphold civil rights, and address racial segregation.
  • Strengthen the educator pipeline through historic investments in educator pay, improved working conditions, and ample resources for educators and staff.
  • Fund high-quality education research and promote transformational, evidence-based practices for student success and wellbeing. 

• Address Socioeconomic Barriers to Learning
  • Triple funding for Title I to better serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds and the schools that educate them.
  • Establish free, universal preschool for all three- and four-year-old children through a federal-state partnership. 
  • Eliminate stigma and reduce bureaucracy by making school breakfasts and lunches free for all children, provide summer meals and summer EBT, and streamline and expand the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
  • Repeal the federal school voucher program, and restore funding and staff to the Department of Education so the federal government can effectively serve all students in all public schools.

The Transforming Education for the Future Act is endorsed by: American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Psychological Association (APA), Glisten, National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE), National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Principals Association, National PTA, and the School Social Work Association of America. 

“PTA firmly believes every child has a right to a high-quality, fair, equitable and well-rounded education as well as the tools and support to learn, succeed and thrive. Our association has long advocated for quality federal investments in our public education system, particularly for Title I, IDEA, Title IV-A, the Statewide Family Engagement Centers program and universal free school meals,” said Dr. Bill Datema, president of National PTA. “We applaud Representative Bonamici for introducing the Transforming Education for the Future Act and leading the charge to ensure investments are prioritized in critical education programs and that every child has the support, programs, resources and services they need to reach their full potential.” 

In addition to the new policy objectives, this legislation also includes the following bills (alphabetically by legislation): 

• American Teacher Act (Rep. Frederica Wilson)
• Arts Education for All Act (Rep. Bonamici) 
• Black History is American History Act (Rep. Beatty) 
• Championing Honest and Responsible Transparency in Education Reform (CHARTER) Act (Rep. DeLauro) 
• Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act (Rep. DeLauro) 
• Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act (Rep. Bonamici)
• Full-Service Community Schools Expansion Act (Rep. Susie Lee) 
• Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act (Rep. Gottheimer) 
• IDEA Full Funding Act (Rep. Huffman)
• Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act (Rep. Moore)
• Keeping All Students Safe Act (Rep. Beyer) 
• Mitigating Electronic Access Losses for Students (Rep. Bonamici)
• New Essential Education Discoveries Act (Rep. Bonamici) 
• Preparing and Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act (Rep. McBath) 
• Protecting Our Students in Schools Act (Rep. Bonamici)
• Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act (Rep. McBath) 
• Right to Read Act (Rep. Grijalva) 
• Safe Schools Improvement Act (Rep. Sanchez) 
• School Violence Prevention Act (Rep. Hayes)
• Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act (Rep. Bonamici)
• Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act (Rep. Meng)  
• Universal School Meals Program Act (Rep. Omar)

The Transforming Education for the Future Act is cosponsored by Representatives Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Nikki Budzinkski (D-IL), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Angie Craig (D-MN), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Adeltia Grijalva (D-AZ), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and, Andrea Salinas (D-OR), and Linda Sanchez (D-CA). 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

The full hearing can be watched HERE.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), co-chair of the Monopoly Busters Caucus, hosted a hearing on the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy as Big Tech monopolists aim to take over the industry and find new ways to profit off the surveillance of Americans. Surveillance AI is rapidly becoming more dangerous, with whistleblowers sounding the alarm that it could pose a serious threat to human life. Yet the powerful companies building AI are being left to write their own rules.

This hearing examined the harms of surveillance AI and Members heard testimony from Dr. Jason Sattizahn, a former Meta employee and whistleblower; Leila Turner-Scott, a mother whose son died after following so-called safety guidance from ChatGPT; Amba Kak, the Co-Executive Director of the AI Now Institute and former Senior Advisor on AI at the Federal Trade Commission and; and Eliza Pan, the co-founder of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice. 

“This hearing could not be more timely. After months of communities speaking out and organizing across the country against data centers and threats of artificial intelligence, now top researchers and even CEOs from those AI companies are also beginning to speak out about their own concerns that artificial intelligence is advancing so rapidly and recklessly that even they believe it could lead to the extinction of humanity. These companies do not exist in a vacuum. They come from a world in which Big Tech corporations and large AI companies backed by those same corporations wield enormous power over the entire AI stack, whether it is the advanced chips, cloud computing, or the models themselves. This has created a closed loop of a few interdependent giants. Before we let this industry lock in its current shape for good, we need real structural solutions to break this oligopoly control and surveillance regime.  That’s why I will soon be releasing a bill that would establish a national federal charter for AI companies, just like we do with banks. These companies would need a charter to operate, and the charter would be conditioned on structural reforms to ensure that the American people’s interest comes first,” said Jayapal. 

“AI surveillance is already inescapable in the technology we use everyday. Grandiose doomsday claims about AI only benefit Meta and other tech companies, because it distracts from this fact and attempts to convince Americans that AI capabilities are beyond their understanding. This is not true. Unfortunately, it is up to all of us to understand how these companies have already siphoned our data without our true consent and push back. We would be foolish to even consider allowing tech companies to regulate themselves, and we should not assume that they will approach policy conversations in good faith. Profit margins drive these companies’ decisions around AI and the use of your data. Period,” said Dr. Jason Sattizahn.

“Since Sam’s death, I’ve learned that one of the most dangerous ways that OpenAI kept him engaged is from the way it programmed ChatGPT’s short and long-term memory. These features are on by default and let the chatbot save the data Sam gave it to create a profile of him. OpenAI collected and stored information about every aspect of my child’s life, drawing him further in by ‘remembering’ personal things about him. Sam thought he was being safe. He thought he was ‘researching’ substances with this invention that, in his mind, had all of the information on the internet to generate accurate outputs and help keep him safe. But the goal of ChatGPT was not to keep Sam safe; It was only to keep him using the product. Just hours before Sam died, ChatGPT had advised him that it was safe to mix Kratom and Xanax. It is not. This technology is unsafe and our elected officials have a responsibility to use their power to hold AI companies accountable and keep this from happening to anyone else’s child,” said Leila Turner-Scott. 

“At the FTC. I saw firsthand what it meant to go up against power in the tech industry after a decade of consolidation on the backs of unregulated commercial surveillance and a permissive competition regime. We do need new rules, and we don’t have to invent them from scratch. We have a long history of governing banks, utilities, critical infrastructure, with tools like structural separation, nondiscrimination, and supervision. In all of these, we have leverage over market interests, and the ability to gate access to the market on the condition that the public interest is protected,” said Amba Kak, Co-Executive Director of the AI Now Institute and former Senior Advisor on AI at the Federal Trade Commission.

“The Amazon tech and corporate employees I represent want Congress and the public to know that if we don’t act now to rein them in, Amazon and its execs will build a world in which all working people are surveilled, pushed out of high quality jobs, and terrified to step out of line. There’s a lot of focus on frontier labs, but we need to realize Amazon is the one spending over $200 billion dollars just this year alone to force data centers into communities, and its own employees are sounding the alarm bells,” said Eliza Pan, co-founder of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice.

Jayapal was joined by Monopoly Busters co-chair, Representative Chris Deluzio (PA-17), and Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), and Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03).

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Issues: Science, Technology, & Antitrust

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)