The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest standing legislative committee (established 1795) in the U.S. House of Representatives and is vested with the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing committee. The Energy and Commerce Committee is at the forefront of all issues and policies powering America’s economy, including our global competitive edge in energy, technology, and health care. The committee is led by E&C Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and E&C Ranking Member Frank Pallone (NJ-06). The Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade is led by Chairman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (IL-09).
The committee will now come to order. Thanks to everyone, especially
our witnesses for joining us today for today's hearing on AI regulation
and the future of US leadership. At the outset, I want to recognize
ranking member Schakowski, as this is our first subcommittee hearing
since she announced her retirement. We're going to miss you. She's
been a welcome partner over the last 4.5 years. Together, we were
able to secure better safety precautions for women with a fair crash
tests act. During the pandemic, we worked tirelessly to support the
trial and tourism industry at a time of unprecedented challenges.
This bond culminated in the ticket act and much more, which strengthens
consumer protections and the ticketing marketplace.
Congress and the ENC. Energy and commerce, of course, won't be the
same without ranking member Schakowski, uh, but her legacy will be
long remembered, so we appreciate you so very much. Since the public
release of chat GPT AI has become a household name.
AI products and services are being developed at Breakneck
Speed delivering new innovations to consumers. These technologies
can revolutionize the economy, drive economic growth and improve
our way of life. Like every technology, however, AI can be weaponized
when it is in the wrong hands, as you know, thankfully, AI is already
regulated by long-standing laws that protect consumers.
Because of the great potential of these technologies, Congress must
be careful when we impose additional obligations on AI developers
and deployers. Our task is to protect our citizens and ensure that
we don't see USAI leadership. Much of the AI marketplace is comprised
of small startups, uh, looking to get it a foothold in the revolutionary
space. And heavy handed regulations may ensure that the next great
American company never makes it. If we fail in this task, we risk
ceding American leadership in AI to China, which is close, close
on our heels, as you know, either economies are also eager to write
the global AI rule book often to their own detriment and the detriment
of the American leadership. The US, of course, the excuse me, the
EU recently enacted its own AI act
while it is still being implemented, the EU's complex law suffers
from many of the innovation chilling effects we saw with the GDPR.
We must also keep a close watch on whether Europe uses the AI Act
and other regulations to unfairly target American companies.
We're here today to determine how Congress can support the growth
of an industry that is key for American competitiveness and jobs
without losing the race to write the global AI rule book.
Our witnesses today will help us understand how we achieve that dream.
