L-R from top row: Reps. Brett Guthrie, Frank Pallone, Brian Babin, Zoe Lofgren, Jim Jordan and Jamie Raskin. Photos: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images, Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, Jemal Countess/AFP via Getty Images
House panels at the center of tech policy are gearing up for a busy year.
Why it matters: Deregulation and cutting red tape will be a theme across committees as they deal with issues around comprehensive privacy, protecting kids online and what to do about AI.
House Energy and Commerce's energy and tech focuses will coalesce as AI data centers become a top priority.
- At E&C's organizational meeting on Wednesday, Chair Brett Guthrie said he's keen on advancing U.S. innovation, including by "unleashing" various energy sources.
- Ranking Member Frank Pallone focused on clean energy during his opening statement, and noted new panel member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been a strong advocate for fighting the climate crisis.
- AOC is also a member of the House AI task force, and she told Axios she wants to work on the intersection of both issues.
- Energy subcommittee Chair Bob Latta told Axios he wants to tackle permitting issues but is skeptical of the Biden administration's recent AI data center executive order.
Guthrie also made clear at the meeting he is going after the Biden administration's Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program's "unnecessary red tape," but did not note specific changes he wants to make.
- The communications and technology subcommittee will be led by Rep. Richard Hudson, who has previously introduced legislation to tackle FCC permitting.
House Science Committee Chair Brian Babin's focus on countering China and reducing red tape will hit on quantum, AI and other emerging tech.
- "We must ensure our nation is not tethered to Earth by red tape — industry should operate at the rapid speed of innovation rather than the sluggish pace of bureaucracy," Babin said in a statement.
- We're watching out for Rep. Jay Obernolte, a member of Science and E&C, who is co-chair of the House AI task force looking at proposals to regulate the industry. The task force has not yet been reauthorized this Congress.
- Rep. Zoe Lofgren is back as ranking member.
Rep. Jim Jordan will lead the Judiciary Committee again, though his criticism of conservative censorship online may be tempered by recent moves from Meta's Mark Zuckerberg.
- Other Big Tech companies are sure to be in Jordan's crosshairs, as his panel tackles high-skilled immigration and competition issues.
- Ranking Member Jamie Raskin has waded into into the debate over how to protect kids online.
Of note: The Financial Services Committee renamed a key subcommittee to include AI, signaling a greater emphasis on the intersection of the technology and sector.
- The Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence subcommittee will have oversight over crypto and non-bank fintech services, as well as machine learning and AI technologies.
- It will be led by Rep. Bryan Steil, who helped take down crypto regulation last year.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove an incorrect reference to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as the ranking member of the E&C energy subcommittee.
