The tech provisions in the Senate NDAA amendment package
Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
Senate negotiators hope to include a number of tech and AI provisions in the year-end defense authorization bill.
Why it matters: The NDAA, a must-pass bill for lawmakers, is one of the only vehicles available to get policy legislation over the finish line before the end of this Congress.
Driving the news: A manager's package of 93 amendments to the Senate NDAA was released last week.
What's inside: The key amendments on AI are:
- An measure from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer which would establish an "Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Weapon Systems Center of Excellence," to be developed by the secretary of Defense.
- The Senate Intel Committee's Intelligence Authorization Act, which features provisions to establish an Artificial Intelligence Security Center at the National Security Agency and for the president to develop procedures on "national security procedures to address certain risks and threats relating to AI."
- A requirement for the president to make it easier for AI vendors and independent researchers to notify the government of risks, for example a foreign actor developing malicious software.
For quantum, the package includes a call for Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. to leverage their security partnership — AUKUS — to cooperate on quantum and counter China.
- Unlike the House, the Senate's NDAA still does not include the Defense Quantum Acceleration Act, which would encourage the near-term adoption of the technology.
- Industry is continuing to push for that legislation in the final NDAA.
The CHIP Equip Act is also included.
- The bill would make chip equipment that comes from a foreign adversary ineligible for federal funds.
- If the equipment isn't produced in the U.S. or by an ally in sufficient amounts or in good enough quality, then a waiver could be obtained.
- Reps. Frank Lucas and Zoe Lofgren and Sens. Mark Kelly and Marsha Blackburn are behind the bipartisan measure.
What we're watching: As our Axios Pro Energy colleague Nick Sobczyk reports, senators don't plan to take up their version of the NDAA on the floor.
- They'll use their amendments to negotiate with the House on a final defense policy bill.
- That means inclusion in the manager's package does not guarantee final passage, but it does indicate a certain level of support.
