WEEK OF JULY 28. 2025
August Recess? Not If Noms Have a Say
State of Play:
The House has left Washington for August recess.
The Senate is in the home stretch as Majority Leader Thune plans a full last week to push through nominations and make a dent in FY26 spending legislation. There is still a chance Senators may be stuck in Washington through next week to move additional Trump nominees.
The Tech Weekly will be back late August for a look ahead of Congress’ plans for the fall.
Driving the News:
President Trump over the weekend announced that he has brokered a trade deal with EU Commissioner President von der Leyen, with the EU committing to $760 billion in energy imports and a 15 percent tariff on most exports.
The deal has garnered mixed results from industry, with sectors like energy, chipmakers, and some aircraft manufacturers standing to gain. Other sectors including automakers, pharmaceuticals, and advocates for digital sovereignty have said the deal may cause job losses, higher costs, or strategic setbacks.
Three Things to Watch in Tech:
1. Senate Banking Cashes In on AI in Capital Markets:
The Senate Banking Securities, Insurance, and Investment Subcommittee w
ill
into how capital and insurance markets are using emerging AI technology.
This is a hot topic given the pressure on industries to incorporate AI into their business practices for efficiency, yet there are calls from Democrats and Republicans alike to implement safeguards on how the technology is used, as well as ensuring workforce training.
Witnesses include industry stakeholders from Aon, NASDAQm, and IBM Research. It is likely senators will probe on how AI is used in financial services automation processes, underwriting, and fraud detection.
2. Judiciary Looks For “Virtual You” Protections: The Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology, and the Law Subcommittee is holding a
on online data protections Wednesday, looking to protect your “virtual you.”
Witnesses predominantly consist of individuals from academia, industry and civil protections coalitions, including the Business Software Alliance and Main Street Privacy Coalition. Notably there are no tech companies testifying.
Protecting the “virtual you” has been a long-standing priority for Subcommittee Chair Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and the hearing could signal additional legislative focus on online data protections. Blackburn is also a champion for children’s online privacy protections, including through her sponsorship of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
3. The AI Action Plan is Out…What Next?: The White House issued its long-awaited AI Action Plan last week, accompanied by several executive orders to foster greater US AI innovation. But what’s next for the Administration on steps to implement its grand plan remains to be seen.
The plan drew mixed reactions, with industry groups praising efforts to speed up data center construction and streamline regulations, while others raised concerns about weakened consumer protections and state authority.
The primary takeaway of the plan is to reduce regulatory burdens on AI to fuel and move investment into US AI innovation to outcompete China.
What's Happening This WeekTech Hearings
The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Securities, Insurance, and Investment Subcommittee holds a hearing on "Guardrails and Growth: AI's Role in Capital and Insurance Markets" - Wednesday, June 30 at 10:00 AM EST
Senate Commerce markup of various bills - Wednesday, June 30 at 10:00 AM EST
The Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology, and the Law Subcommittee holds a hearing on "Protecting the Virtual You: Safeguarding Americans' Online Data" - Wednesday, June 30 at 2:30 PM EST
Tech Events
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials - 2025 International Conference - Sunday, June 27 to Wednesday, June 30
The R Street Institute - Discussion on "Is Community Notes an Effective Tool Against Misinformation?"- Monday, June 28 at 4:30 PM EST
The Government Executive Media Group - Workforce Technology Workshop - Tuesday, June 29 at 8:00 AM EST
The Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology - Virtual Discussion on the reauthorization of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 - Tuesday, June 29 at 11:00 AM EST
The Center for a New American Security - Virtual Discussion on “Global Compute and National Security: Strengthening American AI Leadership Through Proactive Partnerships" - Tuesday, June 29 at 3:00 PM EST
The Center for Strategic and International Studies - Discussion on "Unpacking the White House AI Action Plan" with Michael Kratsios - Wednesday, June 30 at 10:00 AM EST
