New bipartisan Senate bills look to tackle AI challenges

Two new bipartisan Senate bills introduced this week focus on fostering responsible AI adoption in federal acquisition and supporting small businesses.

The first bill, the Promoting Responsible Evaluation and Procurement to Advance Readiness for Enterprise-wide Deployment of AI Act (Prepared for AI Act), seeks to establish pilot programs for more flexible competitive purchasing practices. It mandates that government contracts for AI include safety and security terms covering data ownership, civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, adverse incident reporting, and other critical areas. Sponsored by Senators Gary Peters and Thom Tillis, the bill builds on a 2022 law requiring agencies to protect privacy and civil rights in AI procurement, also sponsored by Peters and referenced by President Joe Biden in his executive order on AI.

In March, the OMB requested input on AI procurement to promote competition and protect government data rights, with plans to take action on AI procurement later this year. A Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee aide indicated that Peters plans to mark up the bill this summer and will explore all options to advance it, either as a standalone bill or part of a larger legislative package. The bill has garnered support from the Center for Democracy and Technology, Transparency Coalition, AI Procurement Lab, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

The second bill, the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training and Tool Kit Act, introduced by Senators Maria Cantwell and Jerry Moran, aims to create AI training resources for small businesses in rural areas, tribal communities, and underserved regions. The Commerce Secretary, in collaboration with the SBA Administrator, would develop these resources, focusing on AI and emerging technologies, including quantum technologies. The training would be provided via grants from the SBA and private sector donations, with the Commerce Department reporting to Congress on the program’s progress and updates.

In a statement, Senator Cantwell emphasized the importance of small businesses, which make up 99% of all businesses in the US, in driving economic growth and innovation. She stressed the need for AI training and reskilling for all American entrepreneurs in the 21st-century marketplace. The SBA has already taken steps to encourage businesses to adopt technology, though its ability to inventory AI use cases has drawn some scrutiny from Congress.

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