The U.S. House of Representatives has adjourned until November for midterm campaigning, effectively punting action on critical artificial intelligence regulation. This decision comes despite urgent pleas from AI executives warning of existential risks and bipartisan calls from lawmakers for immediate legislative oversight. Key proposed bills like the Frontier Act, which aims to introduce third-party audits and a ‘kill switch’ for dangerous AI models, now face significant delays.
The U.S. House of Representatives has officially adjourned until November, choosing to prioritize midterm election campaigning over immediate action on the rapidly escalating crisis of artificial intelligence regulation. This early departure from Washington leaves crucial legislative efforts stalled until after the election, despite growing alarm from tech leaders and lawmakers alike.
The decision to halt legislative work comes in the wake of dire warnings from top AI executives and researchers. Notably, a former Anthropic researcher recently resigned, claiming the technology could 'kill us all by the end of the decade.' Companies like Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI have actively sought regulation, highlighting the urgent need for government oversight.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) justified the adjournment, stating, 'It's time for our members to go home to their districts and make their case to the American people.' Johnson also suggested he was wary of rushing AI regulation, citing concerns that overly restrictive rules could inadvertently give China an advantage in the global AI race. This stance, however, has drawn criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans.
Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.), representing a portion of Silicon Valley, has been a vocal proponent for continued legislative action on AI. He, along with 107 other Democrats, urged Speaker Johnson in a letter to keep the House in session, writing, 'While AI safety experts and Americans increasingly urge action to confront this conflagration of risk, Congress fiddles.' Liccardo expressed deep concern, telling CNBC, 'Our children will not forgive us for our inaction,' and lamenting that 'this Congress is heading for the hills to go back and campaign for reelection.'
Liccardo advocates for immediate action on 'low-hanging fruit,' including the bipartisan Frontier Act, sponsored by Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) and Lori Trahan (D-Mass.). This bill proposes third-party audits for AI labs to ensure safety, introduces new transparency requirements, and empowers the Commerce Department to suspend or restrict AI models posing 'imminent catastrophic risk.' He also suggested exploring a 'kill switch' provision for out-of-control AI models and a narrow antitrust exemption to facilitate industry collaboration on safety measures.
Republican Reps. Obernolte and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) also joined a group of Democrats in a separate letter urging leadership, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), to prioritize AI legislation. Obernolte emphasized that 'the urgency of the moment requires action by Congress before the end of the year.' He plans to push for the Frontier Act and his comprehensive Great American Artificial Intelligence Act to be considered jointly upon the House's return.
While the House has departed, the Senate remains in session for another two weeks and could potentially initiate steps toward AI action. Speaker Johnson has pledged the House would return within 48 hours if the Senate passes any substantive legislation, though this promise was not specific to AI regulation. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) are currently working on a Senate AI safety bill, which Cruz hopes might see a committee vote by the end of the month, pending bipartisan agreement.
 "Robotaxi Revolution: Driverless Car Companies Amass Industrial Real Estate Ahead of Legalization")
