Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Lawmakers have a lengthy list of tech goals they want to accomplish before the 2024 election distracts from any progress on policy.
Why it matters: Policy work is taking second place to winning the White House. But lawmakers have a short window of time — about 10 days — to advance their legislative priorities before they take off for a five-week recess.
The big picture: It's unlikely that any legislation will cross the finish line during this time.
- But lawmakers can inch forward by holding markups, moving appropriations bills and introducing companion legislation.
- Bills that advance could end up being attached to must-pass legislation, such as the annual defense policy bill or year-end spending measures.
What we're watching: The Senate continues to take the lead on AI with a variety of bills in the works.
- The Senate Commerce Committee has repeatedly tried to hold a markup, but scheduling snags and a spectrum-related impasse have gotten in the way.
- Sources tell Axios they expect a markup to happen before recess that would include both spectrum and a number of AI bills.
- Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell's office said it has no updates on the schedule yet.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reiterated earlier this month that protecting kids online continues to be "a top priority" of his.
- Schumer specifically pointed to the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act in a July 11 floor speech.
- "Sadly, a few of our colleagues continue to block these bills without offering any constructive ideas for how to revise the text. So now we must look ahead, and all options are on the table," Schumer said.
On privacy, Cantwell says there's still hope for the American Privacy Rights Act to advance, even after House leaders poured cold water on it.
- We're watching for Cantwell to formally introduce companion legislation to the House bill led by Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
- Civil rights advocates say they're confident Cantwell's version would include the civil rights provisions stripped from the House bill, setting up another roadblock for federal privacy efforts.
Behind the scenes: Lobbyists are applying pressure on lawmakers to act.
- BSA's Aaron Cooper said they'll be pushing bills to codify the AI Safety Institute, advance AI education and workforce development and harmonize government cybersecurity requirements.
Our thought bubble: Bills that task agencies to come up with AI guidelines and protocols without allocating new funding — like the CREATE AI Act and the Future of AI Innovation Act — are more likely to find bipartisan support than others.
- It's also possible AI and elections bills move, but Republicans may be less likely to place any restrictions on election content as the race gets more contentious.
