Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
The New Democrat Coalition on Thursday unveiled an AI platform it says puts middle-class American workers at the center.
Why it matters: The platform, titled "An Innovation Agenda," offers an alternative roadmap for regulation and competition as Republicans dominate Washington right now.
The big picture: The New Dems' framework — shared exclusively with Axios — comes just after the release of President Trump's AI action plan, which heavily promotes deregulation, exporting U.S. tech, building out data centers and combatting "woke" AI systems.
- That approach is coupled with major cuts to tech and science agencies in the works on the Hill.
- The center-left group's platform embraces the emphasis on innovation that congressional Republicans and the Trump administration are also laser-focused on, as the authors recognize Democrats have lost valuable allies in Silicon Valley.
What's inside: The agenda recommends creating tax credits for employers that invest in upskilling or reskilling workers, including through making hiring commitments with community colleges.
- Federal investments should be made in apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and labor market data modernization, the agenda says.
- The proposal calls for tech companies and developers to strengthen partnerships with community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities.
- It recommends expanding federal grants and Title I funding flexibility for K–12 STEM curriculum development, as well as a refundable Child Tax Credit to provide support for working families.
The plan also calls for:
- Launching a "start-up visa" program that would lift country caps on employment-based visas to expand high-skilled immigration.
- Bolstering investments in science R&D at various federal agencies as well as protecting tax incentives for private sector R&D.
What they're saying: Despite Trump's "many professed ambitions of being friendly to tech, this is the most anti-innovation administration in American history," Rep. Sam Liccardo said in an interview with Axios, pointing to the president's policies around immigration, tariffs and R&D.
- "That presents a great opportunity for the New Democratic Coalition to present the antidote and a better way, " added Liccardo, the New Democrat Coalition's innovation & technology working group chair.
What's next: The New Dem Coalition said it's going to engage with the rest of the caucus and with Republicans to refine ideas and craft legislation.
The bottom line: All eyes are on how tech exports and job training programs are handled as both sides of the aisle give lip service to the importance of protecting workers.
