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State of Play

  • The shutdown is finally over and both chambers are in session this week. 

  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is in DC to meet with President Trump.

Driving the News

  • The agreed upon continuing resolution (CR) that passed late last week extends federal funding through January 30, buying Members time to focus on other must-pass priorities through the holiday season, including the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). More on Congress’ tech priorities below. 

  • Beyond NDAA, the House will have to deal with Epstein Files and the Senate is planning the next set of full-year appropriations bills and how to grapple with voting to extend ACA subsidies, which was part of the compromise in securing the eight Democratic votes needed to end the shutdown.

Three Things to Watch in Tech

  1. Congress’ Year-End Tech Priorities: With the shutdown over for now, Congress is rushing back to work on tech issues including AI, kids’ online safety, broadband permitting, cybersecurity bills, and, of course, NDAA. 

  • With just a few weeks of session left in 2025, it still remains unclear how the House and Senate will attempt to regulate AI. Certain initiatives, including Senator Cruz’s push to implement a state AI moratorium are still on the docket for 2026 priorities, as well as Rep. Obernolte’s (R-CA) plans to codify the House AI Task Force’s recommendations. 

  • The Senate Judiciary Committee is planning to tackle kids’ online safety in a December hearing, but any formal legislation, like KOSA or COPPA 2.0 will also likely slip into 2026.

  1. House E&C Chats Chatbots in Upcoming Hearing: The House Energy and Commerce Oversight Subcommittee will resume its post-shutdown work with a hearing focused on AI chatbot safety, scrutinizing potential harms to users, particularly children, and assessing the adequacy of current safeguards.

  • Subcommittee Chair John Joyce (R-PA) warned that the rapid spread of chatbots is raising significant mental-health and safety concerns, prompting growing bipartisan interest in tougher oversight tools, including FTC inquiries and new federal legislation on child protection, liability, and harmful chatbot behavior.

  • The hearing follows Senate Judiciary’s inquiries into AI chatbots, as well as state actions such as California’s new audit and reporting mandates for chatbot providers. Witnesses are primarily academic focused, offering insight into medical and psychological harms of AI chatbots on child development.

  1. Joint Economic Committee Zeroes In on Frontier Tech: The Joint Economic Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday to explore the latest in frontier technologies and pro-innovation policies to support US tech competition. 

  • The hearing will feature witnesses from several tech-focused think tanks, AI, and other emerging tech companies like IonQ and Standard Bots. 

  • Members will likely focus on how the US is leading on certain emerging tech sectors, including quantum, AI, and nuclear, and what Congress can do to support these initiatives. 

  • Committee Chair David Schweikert (R-AZ) has championed several pro-tech efforts, including sponsoring several provisions in NDAA to enhance AI for defense.

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🏛️ Tech Hearings

  • The House Ways and Means Work and Welfare Subcommittee holds a hearing on "Leaving the Sticky Notes Behind: Harnessing Innovation and New Technology to Help America's Foster Youth Succeed "- Tuesday, November 18 at 10:00 AM EST

  • The House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee holds a hearing on "Innovation with Integrity: Examining the Risks and Benefits of AI Chatbots" - Tuesday, November 18 at 2:00 PM EST

  • The House Foreign Affairs South and Central Asia Subcommittee holds a hearing on “Export Control Loopholes: Chipmaking Tools and their Subcomponents” - Thursday, November 20 at 10:00 AM EST

  • The Joint Economic Committee holds a hearing on "Frontier Technologies, Industrial Efficiency, and Pro-Innovation Policies" - Tuesday, November 18 at 2:30 PM EST

🗓️ Upcoming Events

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