Ahead of Congress’ return from August recess next week, Senate AI Caucus Co-Chair Mike Rounds, R-S.D., introduced a package of bipartisan AI legislation.
According to Sen. Rounds, the five bills aim to increase AI literacy, enable the use of AI to enhance the efficiency of U.S. shipyards, spur innovation in financial services, and improve healthcare outcomes.
The package consists of three bills and two defense appropriations amendments.
Sen. Rounds is seeking to tack on his GUIDE AI Act to the 2025 defense appropriations bill. According to Sen. Rounds, the GUIDE AI Act would establish a centralized data exchange center for biomedical data through the National Institutes of Health, the National Library of Medicine, and the National AI Research Resource.
The second defense amendment would require the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program on using AI-enabled software to optimize operations of depots, shipyards, and other manufacturing facilities run by the Pentagon. This bill has been included in the base text of the Senate FY25 National Defense Authorization Act, Sen. Rounds said.
The package also includes two bills for AI in the finance sector. The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act would establish sandboxes at financial regulatory agencies to test AI projects, allowing them to responsibly experiment with cutting-edge technologies in the financial services space. The Increasing AI Transparency in Financial Services Act would require reports on AI regulation in the financial services industry.
Lastly, the Consumers LEARN AI Act aims to develop a national literacy strategy, providing specific AI use case guidance and conducting a national media campaign to help consumers make informed decisions about how they use and interact with AI.
“Following the AI Insight Forums held in late 2023, we have been looking at ways to promote the safe, responsible use of artificial intelligence in the lives of the American people,” said Sen. Rounds in a statement. “I fully believe each of these bills helps the United States make strides toward unleashing AI innovation and resulting opportunities, from national defense to health care research to financial services. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to study AI and implement meaningful, common-sense policies to support its growth and mitigate its risks.”
Rounds serves as one of four members of the Senate’s bipartisan AI working group, along with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.
In late 2023, the group held nine insight forums that brought their Senate colleagues together with leaders from multiple industries impacted by AI to discuss policy and regulation. In May 2024, the group unveiled their bipartisan roadmap for AI policy in the United States.
