House Rules to Weigh Reconciliation Bill, Potential AI Moratorium Wednesday
The House Rules Committee will consider the chamber’s reconciliation package and a potential AI moratorium at 1 a.m. E.T. Wednesday after House Budget Committee Republicans reached an agreement with House Freedom Caucus holdouts Sunday and advanced the measure. The package that House Budget considered at Friday’s markup included a provision that would set a 10-year moratorium blocking states from enforcing AI laws (see 2505140059).
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Sunday there were “minor changes” in the package, and House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, said specifics would be shared through a manager’s amendment this week.
State attorneys general from both parties, state legislators and consumer advocacy groups have vehemently opposed the potential moratorium. More than 140 organizations on Monday signed a letter asking the House to reject the moratorium language. Signees included Demand Progress, Center for Democracy & Technology, Alphabet Workers Union, Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Public Citizen, the American Federation of Musicians, Mozilla and the American Federation of Teachers.
“We cannot keep giving Big Tech the benefit of the doubt because each time they release a product, they prioritize monetizing children over keeping them safe,” Melissa Henson, vice president at Parents Television and Media Council, said in a separate statement. “They prioritize market dominance over the most basic ethical obligations.”
The House Rules Committee markup sets up potential floor action for Wednesday.