Trahan, Lori RSS Articles

Trahan Statement on the Bipartisan KIDS Act

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, issued the following statement regarding the bipartisan compromise to advance the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, a child online safety legislative package expected to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives next week:

“For the last six years, I have worked as a mom and a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee to protect children online. With the bipartisan KIDS Act, we have a real chance to notch a win in that fight. I commend Ranking Member Pallone for his diligence and persistence in negotiating the strongest compromise possible on an issue that is as urgent as it is difficult.”

“Like any compromise, the KIDS Act isn’t perfect. I’ve heard from parents and advocates who believe Congress should go further, and I agree with much of what they’re asking for. But we cannot tell children and families to wait until Democrats retake power in Washington to act, not when real progress is sitting right in front of us. The protections we win today have to actually hold. Provisions that sound strong but get struck down in court tomorrow don’t keep a single kid safer. This agreement is built to survive, and that matters.”

“I’m proud to support the KIDS Act, and I’m just as committed to what comes next. I will keep fighting for every tool parents need to hold Big Tech accountable and for every protection our children deserve.”

Trahan Leads 125 Lawmakers Calling on Trump Administration to Reverse Harmful Rule Changes to Health Research Grant Process

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, was joined by Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01) in leading 125 members of Congress demanding that the Trump Administration stop a proposed rule change to the traditionally nonpartisan federal grantmaking process. The letter, written to White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, demonstrated how the administration’s proposed changes will impede critical health research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and at research institutions across the country.

“We write in opposition to the Office of Management and Budget’s disastrous and likely unlawful proposed rule that would devastate American health care innovation for generations,” the lawmakers wrote. “...This alarming change would convert our venerable gran review process into a political obstacle course and insider’s game, irreparably damaging our nation’s leading health research institutions, including the National Institutes of Health and its grantees across the country.”

Since the end of World War II, NIH has relied on qualified peer reviewers and nonpolitical expert evaluators to determine which health care research puts Americans’ tax dollars to best use. This thorough, nonpolitical process has set the global standard for high-quality grant review and propelled U.S. institutions like the NIH and its grantees to the forefront of scientific innovation, discovery and research.

New proposed rule changes from OMB will give partisan political appointees final say over grant decisions and sideline the longstanding and trusted peer review process. Undoing the peer review process in favor of political grantmaking will delay and disrupt health care research that millions of Americans depend on.

“OMB’s guidance would provide little recourse to people subject to political retribution,” the lawmakers continued. “President Trump’s sacking of thousands of NIH researchers and scientists has led to severe understaffing and grant approval delays at NIH. This rule change would make an already problematic situation disastrous.”

A copy of the letter sent today can be accessed HERE.

Additional signers of the letter include Representatives Mark Pocan, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sharice L. Davids, Adriano Espaillat, Maxine Waters, Suhas Subramanyam, Nancy Pelosi, Bennie G. Thompson, Mike Quigley, Danny K. Davis, Mark DeSaulnier, Mary Gay Scanlon, Janelle S. Bynum, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Sylvia R. Garcia, William R. Keating, Madeleine Dean, Steny H. Hoyer, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Becca Balint, Seth Moulton, April McClain Delaney, Rashida Tlaib, Steve Cohen, Steven Horsford, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Sarah Elfreth, Adam Smith, Pete Aguilar, Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr., Pablo José Hernández, Chris Deluzio, Jonathan L. Jackson, Joyce Beatty, Richard E. Neal, Stephen F. Lynch, James R. Walkinshaw, André Carson, Jimmy Panetta, Shontel M. Brown, Gwen S. Moore, Christian D. Menefee, Yassamin Ansari, Timothy M. Kennedy, Brad Sherman, Ted W. Lieu, Adelita S. Grijalva, Andrea Salinas, Maxine Dexter, M.D., Haley M. Stevens, John B. Larson, Valerie P. Foushee, Donald S. Beyer Jr., Mike Levin, Lateefah Simon, Analilia Mejia, Kathy Castor, Jennifer L. McClellan, Jan Schakowsky, Paul D. Tonko, Robin L. Kelly, Eric Sorensen, Judy Chu, Johnny Olszewski, Jr., Greg Stanton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ro Khanna, Deborah K. Ross, Emanuel Cleaver II, Glenn F. Ivey, Nellie Pou, Juan Vargas, Joaquin Castro, Frederica S. Wilson, Chellie Pingree, Gabe Amo, Mark Takano, Derek T. Tran, Shri Thanedar, J. Luis Correa, John Garamendi, Angie Craig, Kweisi Mfume, Julia Brownley, Zoe Lofgren, Seth Magaziner, Debbie Dingell, Sarah McBride, Sean Casten, Grace Meng, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ayanna Pressley, Wesley Bell, Jasmine Crockett, Melanie Stansbury, Sam T. Liccardo, Kelly Morrison, Jesús G. "Chuy" García, Maggie Goodlander, Salud Carbajal, Chrissy Houlahan, Troy A. Carter, Sr., Shomari Figures, Dina Titus, Rick Larsen, Terri A. Sewell, Bill Foster, Julie Johnson, Jake Auchincloss, Mike Thompson, Jared Huffman, Delia C. Ramirez, Lizzie Fletcher, Rosa L. DeLauro, Brittany Pettersen, Bradley Scott Schneider, Emily Randall, Jim Himes, Pramila Jayapal, Jahana Hayes, Lois Frankel, and Dwight Evans.

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Trahan Announces Littleton Student as Congressional Award Winner

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced Middlesex School student and Littleton native Rebecca Fusco as a winner of the Congressional Award.

“Rebecca represents the very best of our district,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “As a former athlete and the mother of two young girls, I’m especially grateful for Rebecca’s leadership and her mission to ensure more girls have the chance to compete, grow, and succeed through sports. Congratulations Rebecca!”

Rebecca’s project involved over 400 hours of voluntary public service focused on creating opportunities for girls to play basketball, and over 200 hours of personal development focused on increasing her educational growth. Her mission of expanding opportunities for girls to play basketball took her to Ecuador where she worked with local advocates united in the mission of making the game more accessible to all.

The Congressional Award is a non-partisan charity founded by Congress in 1979 that aims to recognize and promote excellence in young people. The program's goal is to encourage youth to set and achieve goals in four areas: Voluntary Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. By setting and achieving these goals, young people are empowered to take charge of their own lives and become active and responsible citizens.

To date, over 9 million hours of service have been contributed to communities across the country as a part of the Congressional Award program. There are currently over 45,000 youth enrolled.

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Why Congress must lead on AI standards

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

America needs a strong national strategy on artificial intelligence, and we need it now. AI is moving at breakneck speed, producing newer and more powerful models that pose real risks to safety, national security, and the nation’s workforce. Each day that passes without a comprehensive federal standard puts us further behind, and puts every American at greater risk.

The promise is enormous, nowhere clearer than here in Massachusetts. Our universities, hospitals, and startups are using AI to hunt for cancer cures, detect disease earlier than any doctor could, and model the climate threats bearing down on our coastlines. The Commonwealth’s researchers, life-science labs, and cybersecurity firms should lead the world in building this technology.

However, the same technology that could cure disease can also cause profound harm. Parents are seeing chatbots cause real harm to their children, workers are worried about their job prospects, and educators are struggling to find healthy ways to implement this new technology in class.

In the absence of a federal regulatory framework, power concentrates in the hands of a small number of companies racing to build the most potent technology in human history. They ask us to trust them while they write the rules of the road themselves. We’ve seen this movie before. Lawmakers spent the last two decades playing catch-up to social media giants, and the public is still paying the price.

Recognizing the lack of federal action, states have stepped in to fill the void. States like California, New York, and Illinois have passed laws to target potential catastrophic risks when AI models are developed. Massachusetts lawmakers are targeting the harms of AI usage, including by chatbots and AI-generated sex abuse imagery. This is important progress, and the leadership of our state lawmakers has finally spurred the early stages of a federal response.

Last week, the White House issued an executive order creating a voluntary system for evaluating powerful new AI models. The administration’s engagement is a positive step, but a voluntary pledge holds only as long as these massive companies choose to play along. Only Congress can set a durable nationwide standard with the force of law behind it.

That’s why I, a Democrat, entered into bipartisan negotiations with Republican Representative Jay Obernolte of California to craft federal legislation that governs the development of AI models. We have four clear goals: ensure AI models are trained safely, guarantee that states can continue passing and enforcing laws to defend their residents from harms when models are deployed or used, arm policy makers with the information necessary to respond in real time to AI’s impacts across the workforce, and focus the regulations on the largest AI companies while giving startups and small businesses the space to build.

Together, we crafted the Great American Artificial Intelligence Act, a discussion draft that creates two distinct lanes. It tasks the federal government with setting uniform safety rules for how the most powerful models are developed and tested, a federal standard that, for three years, would take the place of a handful of state laws governing the development stage so innovators face one rulebook, not 50. States, meanwhile, would retain full power to govern how AI is deployed and used, from hiring and housing to health care, education, chatbots, and more.

This governance model is tried and tested. When cars are built for sale in the United States, they must meet federal safety standards, so a car sold in one state is as safe as one sold in another. Once those cars hit the road, however, states write the rules of the road. No one wants Washington setting the height limit for moving trucks on Storrow Drive, but the federal government should make sure every vehicle that drives on it is built to keep drivers and families safe.

A patchwork of 50 different state laws cannot protect our national security, and it does not foster the innovation we need to compete. It leaves startups in Cambridge and Devens navigating a maze of conflicting rules while our adversaries race ahead. A strong federal standard protects our country, gives innovators the certainty they need to grow, and ensures state legislators can pass laws so AI products meet the needs of their residents.

This is a difficult balance. Some argue the bill is too burdensome, others that it doesn’t go far enough. That’s why we released it as a discussion draft to gather input from workers, researchers, educators, startups, state and local lawmakers, industry, and the public, all of whom have a stake in getting this right.

We’re at a pivotal moment. AI models will only grow more capable, and the glaring risks will only grow with them. The Great American Artificial Intelligence Act is meant to help unlock a comprehensive, bipartisan federal AI strategy, one that lets Massachusetts lead.

Trahan: Why Congress Must Lead on AI Standards

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, penned an op-ed in The Boston Globe underscoring the need for a strong national strategy on artificial intelligence. In the piece, she argues that Congress should not sit on the sidelines but rather lead this push as AI evolves and the risks to American workers and national security evolve with it.

“AI is moving at breakneck speed, producing newer and more powerful models that pose real risks to safety, national security, and the nation’s workforce,” Congresswoman Trahan wrote. “Each day that passes without a comprehensive federal standard puts us further behind, and puts every American at greater risk.”

The op-ed follows Trahan’s release of the Great American Artificial Intelligence Act (GAAIA), a bipartisan discussion draft to create a federal framework for how the United States governs artificial intelligence. The discussion draft was co-authored by Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) and released alongside Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Scott Franklin (R-FL-18), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), and Erin Houchin (R-IN-09).

Trahan addressed states' role directly in today’s piece.

“In the lack of federal action, states have stepped in to fill the void. States like California, New York, and Illinois have passed laws to target potential catastrophic risks when AI models are developed,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “Massachusetts lawmakers are targeting the harms of AI usage, including by chatbots and AI-generated sex abuse imagery. This is important progress, and the leadership of our state lawmakers has finally spurred the early stages of a federal response.”

Trahan also laid out the consequences if Congress fails to act on AI, comparing it to the federal government’s inability to pass regulations on large social media companies.

“In the absence of a federal regulatory framework, power concentrates in the hands of a small number of companies racing to build the most potent technology in human history,” Congresswoman Trahan argued. “They ask us to trust them while they write the rules of the road themselves. We’ve seen this movie before. Lawmakers spent the last two decades playing catch-up to social media giants, and the public is still paying the price.”

Since announcing The Great American AI Act discussion draft, Trahan has stated that the federal government must set uniform safety rules for how the most powerful models are developed and tested. The draft legislation proposes a federal standard for three years, that would elevate the very best of the handful of state laws in place and make them the federal standard. While states retain full power to determine how AI is deployed and used, from hiring and housing to health care, education, chatbots, and more.

GAAIA was released as a discussion draft, and Trahan has spent the past week calling for stakeholders, researchers, and members of the public to submit feedback. Those interested in weighing in on the bill are encouraged to reach out at GAAIA@mail.house.gov.

Text of the discussion draft can be accessed HERE.

A section-by-section summary can be accessed HERE.

A frequently asked questions document prepared by the Office of Congresswoman Lori Trahan can be accessed HERE.

The full op-ed is available at The Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/12/opinion/ai-state-regulations/

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Trahan Celebrates Opening of Acton Community Center

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) celebrated the ribbon cutting of Acton’s new Community Center at 17 Woodbury Lane. Trahan secured $750,000 Community Project Funding and the Town of Acton used $600,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to complete the project.

“Unique projects like this don’t have one straight forward funding source. They need leaders to work together and find different funding sources to get them across the finish line, and today we can say we got it done,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Thank you to all our local and state leaders for years of hard work and partnership to bring this vision of a new community center to life. I hope this new Center brings the community together and serves as a place of joy and unity for all.”

“We thank Congresswoman Trahan for her leadership and strong support for this project,” said Acton Town Manager John Mangiaratti. “The historic Asaph Parlin House at 17 Woodbury Lane had been deteriorating after decades of debate over use and lack of available funding. The $750,000 federal earmark was the catalyst that helped move this project forward along with additional funding from ARPA. With this federal support we were able resolve a local blight and preserve the historic structure in a functional and unique new community space.”

The space, 17 Woodbury Lane, was locally referred to as the Asaph Parlin House after early Acton settlers. Built in the 1860s, the wood-frame house is part of the Historic Acton Centre District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In 1996, the Town purchased the house with the intent of creating additional space for library events and potentially accommodating a cultural center. The new community center is intended to support municipal and community programming, meetings, and workshops.

During the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations process, Trahan secured $750,000 in federal funding for the project. She also cast her vote to pass ARPA in 2021, which delivered unprecedented federal investments in states and towns like Acton. The Town of Acton utilized $600,000 of their federal ARPA allotment to complete the long overdue project.

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Trahan se opone al proyecto de ley de reconciliación republicano que destina otros $70 mil millones a ICE y CBP

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Hoy, la congresista Lori Trahan (MA-03) votó en contra del paquete de reconciliación republicano que asigna otros $70 mil millones al Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE. UU. (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) y a la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (CBP, por sus siglas en inglés), financiando a ambas agencias por el resto del mandato del presidente Donald Trump mientras las familias continúan luchando con el alto costo de vida.

“Las familias en Massachusetts todavía están luchando para poder pagar los alimentos, la renta y la atención médica. Este proyecto de ley no hace nada por ellas”, dijo la congresista Trahan. “En cambio, los republicanos de la Cámara entregaron a Donald Trump casi $70 mil millones para expandir su máquina de deportaciones masivas. Voté no porque las familias de Massachusetts merecen algo mejor que un Congreso que trabaja para Trump en lugar de para ellas”.

El financiamiento aprobado por los republicanos de la Cámara incluye:

$38.5 mil millones para ICE
$26.0 mil millones para CBP
$5.0 mil millones para el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de EE. UU.

Lo que falta en el imprudente presupuesto republicano:

Disposiciones para detener el fondo discrecional de $1.8 mil millones de Donald Trump para insurreccionistas condenados por los incidentes del 6 de enero, incluidos aquellos que admitieron haber golpeado a agentes de policía.
Lenguaje para bloquear un acuerdo negociado con el Departamento de Justicia que eximiría a Trump de auditorías y eliminaría más de $100 millones en presuntas obligaciones fiscales y sanciones.
Reformas de sentido común y supervisión para ICE y CBP, incluyendo exigir que los agentes se quiten las máscaras, muestren credenciales y presenten órdenes judiciales firmadas antes de realizar arrestos.
La restauración de fondos de SNAP, Medicaid o la Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible que las familias necesitan para poner comida en la mesa y pagar su atención médica

El verano pasado, los republicanos de la Cámara usaron la reconciliación para aprobar el “Big Ugly Bill” de Donald Trump, que recortó más de $1 trillón de Medicaid y $187 mil millones de SNAP para financiar una reducción de impuestos que benefició de manera abrumadora a los estadounidenses más ricos. Esa misma propuesta asignó $140 mil millones en financiamiento para ICE y CBP. En conjunto, esos recortes pusieron a 326,262 personas en Massachusetts en riesgo de perder su seguro médico, y el proyecto aún añadió $4.7 trillones al déficit.

El proyecto de ley de reconciliación de línea partidista fue aprobado en la Cámara 214-212.

Trahan Opposes Republican Reconciliation Bill Giving Another $70 Billion to ICE & CBP

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) voted against the Republican reconciliation package that allocates another $70 billion for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP), funding both agencies for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term while families continue struggling with higher prices.

“Families in Massachusetts are still struggling to afford groceries, rent, and health care. This bill does nothing for them,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Instead, House Republicans handed Donald Trump nearly $70 billion to expand his mass deportation machine. I voted no because Massachusetts families deserve better than a Congress that works for Trump instead of them.”

The funding passed by the House Republicans includes:

$38.5 billion for ICE
$26.0 billion for CBP
$5.0 billion for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

What’s missing from the reckless Republican budget:

Provisions to stop Donald Trump's $1.8 billion slush fund for convicted January 6 insurrectionists, including those who admitted to beating police officers
Language to block a negotiated agreement with the Department of Justice that would exempt Trump from audits and erase more than $100 million in alleged tax liabilities and penalties
Commonsense reforms and oversight for ICE and CBP, including requiring agents to remove masks, display badges, and secure signed judicial warrants before making arrests
The restoration of SNAP, Medicaid, or Affordable Care Act funding that families need to put food on the table and afford their health care

Last summer, House Republicans used reconciliation to pass Donald Trump's Big Ugly Bill, which cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and $187 billion from SNAP to fund a tax cut that overwhelmingly benefited the wealthiest Americans. That same proposal allocated $140 billion in funding for ICE and CBP. Together, those cuts put 326,262 people in Massachusetts at risk of losing their health coverage, and the bill still added $4.7 trillion to the deficit.

The party line reconciliation bill passed the House 214-212.

Trahan, Obernolte Unveil Federal AI Framework Discussion Draft

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23), members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released a discussion draft of the Great American AI Act, bipartisan legislation to create a federal framework for how the United States governs artificial intelligence. The discussion draft was released with Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Scott Franklin (R-FL-18), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), and Erin Houchin (R-IN-09).

“The threats AI poses to our national security, our safety, and our workforce are here and growing by the day. This bipartisan framework is designed to meet the challenges posed by this rapidly advancing technology without smothering American innovation. It protects workers, establishes real accountability for the most powerful frontier systems, and positions the United States to set the global standard on AI,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “This discussion draft is the product of ongoing bipartisan conversations, which we hope to build upon with input from workers, researchers, stakeholders, and members of the public, all of whom have an interest in getting this right.”

“Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, which is why Congress must take a thoughtful and bipartisan approach to regulating this critical technology,” said Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23). “This discussion draft is an important step toward building a clear federal framework that promotes innovation, protects Americans from emerging risks, and ensures the United States continues to lead the world in AI. We are releasing this draft to hear from stakeholders, experts, and the public so we can strengthen the legislation before it is formally introduced.”

The discussion draft is intended to solicit feedback from stakeholders, experts, and the public before the bill is formally introduced. It is the result of bipartisan collaboration between the two members to ensure the United States can govern AI effectively, protect Americans from emerging risks, and continue to lead the world in AI innovation.

Stakeholders, researchers, and members of the public are encouraged to submit feedback on the discussion draft to GAAIA@mail.house.gov.

“AI is already changing how we work, live, and learn. We need a plan to protect our national security and workforce. I want the United States to continue to be a leader in AI race but develop this technology in a responsible manner that protects people and communities. To do so, we must get a bipartisan conversation started and work faster to address the challenges and opportunities presented by AI,” said Congressman Subramanyam.

“Artificial intelligence is already transforming our economy, our national security and the way Americans live and work,” said Congressman Franklin. “Congress has a responsibility to establish clear rules of the road that encourage innovation while ensuring this technology is developed responsibly. The Great American AI Act builds on the bipartisan House AI Task Force and represents an important step toward greater transparency and accountability for advanced AI systems. This discussion draft will help gather feedback from relevant stakeholders as we work toward a practical legislative framework that keeps America at the forefront of AI innovation. I've already begun laying the groundwork through efforts like securing additional funding for the Center for AI Standards and Innovation through the FY27 Appropriations process, ensuring the federal government has the tools and expertise needed to keep pace with this rapidly evolving technology. I appreciate Policy Chair Obernolte's leadership and look forward to introducing this bill in the House.”

“I am thankful to Rep. Trahan and Rep. Obernolte for their leadership on this critical issue,” said Congressman Peters. “This discussion draft will not address all of the issues our businesses and families will face, but it is an encouraging first step toward the bipartisan legislation needed to keep pace with the rapid advancement of AI. I really want to hear how the people affected feel about it.”

“America should lead the world in artificial intelligence, not regulate ourselves into falling behind China through a patchwork of fifty different state laws,” said Congresswoman Houchin. “That approach would make it harder for American companies to innovate and compete while doing little to improve consumer protections. This bill creates a clear national standard for how AI models are developed while preserving the ability of states and parents to protect children. It strikes the right balance between innovation and consumer protection and ensures Congress remains engaged as this technology continues to evolve.”

Text of the discussion draft can be accessed HERE.

A section-by-section summary can be accessed HERE.

A frequently asked questions document prepared by the Office of Congresswoman Lori Trahan can be accessed HERE.

Stakeholders, researchers, and members of the public are encouraged to submit feedback on the discussion draft to GAAIA@mail.house.gov.

Trahan: Congress Must Act Now on AI

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This weekend, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee penned an op-ed in CommonWealth Beacon making the case that Congress cannot afford to wait for a crisis before establishing guardrails on the most powerful AI systems, drawing a direct line from the manufacturing jobs that vanished from the Merrimack Valley she represents to the disruption AI now threatens to unleash on America’s workers, national security, and cyber infrastructure.

“After decades of offshoring and automation hollowing out American manufacturing, the workers left behind in Haverhill didn’t need a study to tell them what was coming. They needed Congress to act years before they got handed pink slips,” Congresswoman Trahan wrote. “On artificial intelligence, we still have a chance to move before similar damage is done, but that window is closing faster than most people realize.”

Trahan points to Anthropic's Mythos model, which was deemed too dangerous for public release after it proved capable of identifying thousands of vulnerabilities across major operating systems and browsers. Despite warning signs like these, she notes, there is no federal law governing how the most powerful AI systems are built, tested, or deployed, no independent auditing of frontier labs' safety claims, and no federal agency with clear authority to step in to prevent a catastrophic event.

She goes on to describe what a potential bipartisan federal framework can and should include:

Frontier Accountability: Require the largest AI companies to publish and comply with safety frameworks, submit to third-party audits, and ensure whistleblowers are protected.
Independent verification: Accredit private auditing organizations to embed within frontier labs and call in enforcers when companies fall short of safety and transparency requirements.
Protections for American Workers: Update WARN Act requirements so employers must disclose when AI drives a mass layoff, enable real-time tracking of AI impacts on the workforce, and prompt Congress to act proactively to support American workers rather than job training after the damage is done.
Strengthened Cyber Defenses: Include funding for open-source maintainers and reauthorize the threat-sharing framework that lets companies flag risks without antitrust exposure.

Trahan also addresses the federalism question head-on, arguing that serious governance concentrates oversight at the frontier and elevates the strongest state provisions into a federal standard focused on model development, while explicitly preserving states' ability to protect residents from AI systems that discriminate, deceive, or endanger.

“I cannot go back to Haverhill, look a worker, a parent, or a recent graduate in the eyes, and tell them that we saw what was coming and decided to wait for a more opportune moment,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “Congress must act for the workers, the families, and the communities that cannot afford for us to get this wrong. Again.”

The full op-ed is available at CommonWealth Beacon: https://commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/congress-must-act-now-on-ai/

WINTERFEST FEB. 21 - 22, 2020

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT

Lowell's annual Winterfest weekend in downtown Lowell is a fun event featuring everything from a carousel and ice-skating to an all-you-can-eat chocolate festival.

Click here to learn more