Technology

passed · United States · Senate May 26, 2025

S 97: Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act

This bill directs the SelectUSA program (part of the Commerce Department) to boost foreign investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, focusing on vulnerable supply chain segments like chip fabrication, advanced packaging, and materials. It requires SelectUSA to coordinate with state economic development groups to identify barriers to investment, develop strategies, and prevent adversaries from benefiting. The bill mandates a congressional report within two years detailing these efforts and strategies, but explicitly states no new federal funds will be allocated - using existing SelectUSA resources instead. It aims to strengthen U.S. semiconductor supply chains for economic and national security, without creating new government programs or mandates.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill boosts U.S. semiconductor manufacturing investment to secure supply chains, directly strengthening foundational technology infrastructure.95% confidence

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2025

HR 3562: DEFIANCE Act of 2025

The DEFIANCE Act of 2025 creates a new civil legal remedy for victims of non-consensual intimate digital forgeries (synthetic images or videos manipulating real people into sexual contexts without consent). It allows affected individuals to sue perpetrators in federal court for damages up to $250,000, injunctions to remove content, and privacy protections like pseudonyms. The bill specifically covers cases where forgeries are created or shared with intent to disclose, including scenarios involving sexual assault or harassment. It expands existing federal protections under 15 U.S.C. 6851 to address digital forgeries while ensuring state laws remain in effect.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects digital privacy by creating legal remedies against non-consensual deepfakes, enabling lawsuits for damages and content removal to safeguard victims' rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · United States · House Apr 9, 2025

HRES 314: Of inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to transmit, respectively, certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to the effect on taxpayer and child privacy of the seizure by the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" of legally-protected identity and financial data stored in the National Directory of New Hires and the Federal Parent Locator Service.

HRES 314 is a resolution requesting the President and Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide documents to the House of Representatives about the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) seeking access to two federally protected data systems: the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) and Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS). The resolution seeks records on DOGE's requests for taxpayer and child support data, data security measures, legal opinions, and staff changes related to these systems, which store sensitive information on over 40 million Americans. This procedural resolution focuses on transparency around access to legally protected data, not on enacting new policy.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill seeks to protect taxpayer and child privacy by requesting documents on unauthorized access to federally protected data systems (NDNH/FPLS), aligning with data privacy safeguards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection

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in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2026

S 2437: Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

This bill reauthorizes the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program through 2031, updating its focus to prioritize integrated snowpack measurement and advanced modeling technologies. It shifts emphasis from basic data collection to tools like machine learning, imaging spectroscopy, and hydrologic modeling to improve water supply forecasts. The program’s annual funding is reduced to $6.5 million (from $15 million over five years), requiring annual reports on basin applications and technology effectiveness. It directly affects water managers and agencies in snowmelt-dependent regions, particularly those making multi-state or multi-basin water decisions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentReauthorizes snowpack forecasting program with advanced tech focus to improve water resource management, aligning with conservation goals despite reduced funding.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly prioritizes machine learning, imaging spectroscopy, and hydrologic modeling technologies to improve water forecasting, directly advancing tech application in its program focus.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy

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in committee · United States · House Dec 3, 2025

HR 6371: No Robot Bosses Act

The "No Robot Bosses Act" (HR 6371) prevents employers from making final employment decisions (like hiring, firing, or promotions) using automated systems without human oversight. It requires companies with 11+ employees to test these systems for bias against protected groups, explain how they work in plain language to workers, and provide opportunities for workers to dispute automated decisions through human review. The bill creates a new Technology and Worker Protection Division within the Department of Labor to enforce these rules and requires annual public reports on bias testing. It also includes strong whistleblower protections for workers who report violations. The law applies to most employers but excludes certain government entities and labor organizations acting in their representative capacity.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects workers' rights by preventing biased automated employment decisions and requiring human oversight, transparency, and dispute resolution.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts employer use of AI in hiring/promotions without human oversight, requiring bias testing and transparency, thus limiting tech application in employment decisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Workplace Safety

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in committee · United States · Senate Jan 14, 2026

S 2100: Modernizing Agricultural and Manufacturing Bonds Act

This bill modifies tax rules for bonds used to fund agricultural and manufacturing facilities. It expands what counts as a "manufacturing facility" to include production of intangible property (like software) and related on-site facilities, while raising the dollar limit for qualified small issue bonds from $10 million to $30 million (with annual inflation adjustments). It also increases the annual bond limit for first-time farmers from $450,000 to $1 million and changes how farmland size is measured for eligibility. The changes apply to bonds issued after the bill's enactment date for manufacturing and after December 31, 2025, for farm-related bonds. These adjustments primarily affect agricultural businesses and manufacturers seeking tax-exempt financing for facility projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax incentives for manufacturing/agriculture by increasing bond limits, promoting business investment through tax policy.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands 'manufacturing facility' definition to include software production, enabling tax-advantaged bonds for tech-related facilities.85% confidence

Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · Senate Jan 22, 2025

S 188: Free Speech Protection Act

S 188, the Free Speech Protection Act, prohibits U.S. government employees from pressuring social media platforms or media organizations to censor constitutionally protected speech. The bill directly affects federal employees and covered platforms (including social media companies and media organizations), banning actions like directing platforms to remove content, label speech as "misinformation," or restrict user access. Key mechanisms include requiring detailed reports on government-platform communications, terminating the DHS Disinformation Governance Board, and banning federal grants related to misinformation/disinformation. The bill aims to prevent government influence over content moderation while preserving First Amendment protections.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits government pressure on social media platforms to censor speech, directly protecting digital rights and free expression online.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media Tags Civil Liberties

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in committee · United States · House May 15, 2025

HR 3437: Insurance Data Protection Act

HR 3437, the Insurance Data Protection Act, prevents duplicate data collection from insurance companies by requiring federal financial regulators to coordinate with state insurance regulators before gathering data already available through other channels. It reinforces confidentiality by ensuring that sharing nonpublic data with federal regulators does not waive privacy protections under federal or state law, and maintains existing confidentiality agreements. The bill also establishes that data shared with regulators can only be provided to state regulators through new agreements that comply with privacy laws. This directly affects insurance companies (as "covered entities"), federal financial regulators, and state insurance regulators. The key change is creating a formal process to avoid redundant data requests while strengthening data privacy for the insurance industry.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly reinforces data privacy protections by preventing waiver of confidentiality under federal/state law, aligning with technology policy support for data privacy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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in committee · United States · House Jan 21, 2026

HR 6875: AI OVERWATCH Act

The AI OVERWATCH Act requires U.S. exporters to obtain a license for sending certain high-performance integrated circuits (defined by specific technical specifications like processing power or bandwidth) to countries designated as "concerns," including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Before approving such licenses, the Commerce Department must submit detailed certifications to Congress, including assurances the export won’t support military/intelligence capabilities of the recipient country and won’t harm U.S. semiconductor availability or AI leadership. The bill also creates an exemption for U.S. companies meeting strict security and ownership standards ("trusted United States persons") to export these chips to non-target countries without a license. Additionally, it mandates a national security strategy assessing how such exports affect U.S. AI competitiveness, particularly regarding China’s semiconductor production and capabilities.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts exports of high-performance chips to designated countries, limiting tech transfer for national security, aligning with 'oppose' stance90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 25, 2026

S 3912: NIDIS Reauthorization Act of 2026

The NIDIS Reauthorization Act of 2026 reauthorizes the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) through 2030, increasing annual funding from $15 million (2026) to $17 million (2030). It updates NIDIS's mandate to prioritize AI and machine learning for drought forecasting, incorporate flash drought research, address data gaps (like snowpack and groundwater monitoring), and improve coordination with state and federal agencies. The bill directly affects federal agencies (NOAA, National Weather Service) and state/local entities that use drought data for water management and emergency planning. Key provisions require enhanced drought prediction tools, expanded observational networks, and better decision-support products for communities facing drought risks.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases funding for drought monitoring systems and mandates AI-enhanced forecasting to address climate-related data gaps (snowpack, groundwater), aiding climate adaptation and resource management.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly prioritizes AI and machine learning for drought forecasting, directly advancing technology use in federal systems per its mandate update.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Natural Disasters Artificial Intelligence

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