Week of February 5, 2024
The Senate released its bipartisan immigration/Ukraine funding package over the weekend after months of negotiations. The package includes funding measures worth $118 billion, including $60 billion for emergency Ukraine funding. The bill would also overhaul several areas of current immigration law including eligibility for asylum seekers as well as provide other foreign aid. Despite the bipartisan nature of the legislation, as well as the President’s support, the bill is “dead on arrival” in the House, according to Speaker Johnson.
Other Hill happenings this week include a joint subcommittee hearing on federal AI research in the House Science Committee, as well as one on cybersecurity and operational technology in the water sector in House Homeland. Also still top of mind is last week’s incendiary Senate Judiciary hearing on children’s online privacy, and what lawmakers are thinking for next steps on passing legislation.
What We’re Watching:
What’s Next for Children’s Online Safety Legislation: Last week’s Senate Judiciary on children’s online safety made for quite the dramatic flair, as tech CEOs testified on how their platforms are addressing minors’ safety online. Members discussed several pieces of legislation including Chair Durbin’s Stop CSAM Act, as well as Ranking Member Graham’s EARN IT Act. Members pledged during the hearing to push for action this, and several others, as a children’s online safety package, but it remains to be seen if these efforts will fall flat or garner Leader Schumer’s attention. Efforts to hotline any legislation will likely be unsuccessful due to jurisdictional issues, but the Judiciary Committee has expressed steadfastness in its pursuit to pass legislation. With a growing list of must-do items in both chambers, and a focus on appropriations in the House, it is unclear if Speaker Johnson will prioritize online safety bills.
House Science Gets Technical on AI Research: The House Science Committee will be holding a joint subcommittee hearing on Wednesday focused on examining current federal AI research objectives. Members of the Reseasearch and Tech Subcommittee, as well as the Energy Subcommittee, will hear from representatives of federal agencies and industry on the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Task Force’s recommendations and the NSF’s first steps in developing an AI Research Resource. The White House is touting achievements completed so far in the AI Executive Order that are well underway, and Congress is sure to continue to inquire on progress from agencies as well, particularly in light of last Friday’s NIST deadline for stakeholder comments on a number of EO directives.
House Homeland Takes on Cyber in the Water Sector: The House Homeland Cybersecurity Subcommittee will be tackling a more under-the-radar issue: operational technology in the water sector. This has been an increased topic of discussion in the last few years in light of cyberthreats to municipal water resources, like the one in Oldsmar, Florida last year. The Subcommittee will be looking at the ways CISA is working with industry to address these evolving threats to operational technology across sectors, and what more needs to be done to secure water systems.
What’s Happening This Week:
Tech Hearings
The House Science, Space and Technology Research and Technology and Energy Subcommittees - "Federal Science Agencies and the Promise of AI in Driving Scientific Discoveries" - Tuesday, February 6 at 10:00 AM ET
HFSC Hearing on FSOC Oversight with Treasury Secretary Yellen - Tuesday, February 6 at 10:00 AM ET
House Homeland Cyber Subcommittee hearing on OT in the water sector - Tuesday, February 6 at 10:00 AM ET
Senate Banking Hearing on FSOC with Secretary Yellen - Thursday, February 8 at 9:00 AM ET
Senate Finance Committee hearing on AI and Health Care - Thursday, February 8 at 10:00 AM ET
Tech Events
The Center for Strategic and International Studies - "Emerging Policy Issues for Foundational Semiconductors" - Monday, February 5 at 10:00 AM ET
The Women's Foreign Policy Group, Microsoft Democracy Forward initiative, the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute - "Safeguarding Democracy: Technology and Election Security" - Tuesday, February 6 at 8:30 AM ET
Washington Post Live - "The Global Race to Develop and Regulate Artificial Intelligence" - Tuesday, February 6 at 9:00 AM ET
The Government Executive Media Group - "2024 Outlook: Artificial Intelligence for Technical Excellence in Government" - Tuesday, February 6 at 2:00 PM ET
The Center for Strategic and International Studies - "Artificial Intelligence and Neurodiversity" - Wednesday, February 7 at 10:00 AM ET
ITI the Intersect: A Tech+Policy Summit - Wednesday, February 7 at 1:00 PM ET
The Brookings Institution - "Assessing the Impact of Generative AI and Other Online Threats in a Historic Election Year" - Wednesday, February 7 at 2:30 PM ET
The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association - "Elevating Cyber Resilience - Staying Ahead of the Curve" - Thursday, February 8 at 8:30 AM ET
The Intelligence and National Security Alliance - “Coffee & Conversation with CIA and SCSP” - Thursday, February 8 at 9:00 AM ET
The American Bar Association - "Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Courts: What Judges Should Expect to See" - Thursday, February 8 at 1:00 PM ET
The Hudson Institute - "Emerging Technologies and National Security," February 9-11
What’s Interesting This Week:
Fore!.... On February 6, 1971, Apollo 14 astronaut Alan Shepard hit the first golf ball on the Moon, hours after the Apollo 14’s landing on the lunar surface. He used a six-iron attached to a sample collection tool.
