Congress weighs action as AI concerns mount
By" Zachary Schermele
and Erin Mansfield
USA Today
WASHINGTON - Panic is rapidly setting in among many Americans about the dangers of advanced artificial intelligence, and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are feeling intensifying pressure to take action to regulate the companies in charge of the emerging technology.
.....
As the Senate returned September 14 [2026] from a five-week recess, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York demanded an immediate all-senators classified briefing with Trump administration officials about their evolving plans for AI regulation.
..... "Warning bells are ringing louder than they ever have," Schumer said in a statement.
..... House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, told reporters he's planning to meet whit top AI executives later this week [09/18/2026] or early next week. [09/21/2026]
..... In the week since an Anthropic researcher dramatically resigned - warning publicly that rogue AI could one day wipe out humanity - lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been sounding dire alarm bells. As the field's top leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, have said they'd support more regulation on their won companies, both Democrats and Republicans have signaled a new openness about curbing AI development. Several pieces of legislation have reemerged as potential action items.
..... But with the midterms less than two months away, members of Congress are contending with a limited schedule that is complicating any prospects of a quick legislative intervention. The House is only expected to be in session for a few days this week [09/18/2026] before departing Washington until November. [2026] The Senate, meanwhile, is expected to leave by October 2 [2026] until after the election.
..... Last weekend, [09/12-13/2026] Johnson and President Donald Trump seemed bearish about the federal movement stepping in dramatically. In a CNN interview, Johnson indicated that tech companies not Congress, should lead AI safety efforts.
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"If Congress just races in and does some sort of emergency session to try to regulate AI, we will lose the race to China, and that is a threat to every single American," he said.
..... The president, meanwhile, dismissed concerns about AI and data centers as a "a SICK conspiracy," saying in a September 14 [2026] social media post: "WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS!"
..... The House was preparing to vote on a bipartisan bill aimed at preventing energy bills from spiking because of nearby data centers, the infrastructure hubs hat support AI models.
..... According to Johnson's office, Republicans plan to bring the Ratepayer Protection Act to the House floor "under suspension," a fast-tracked process that means leadership is confident the legislation can pass. The bill would require state utility regulators to consider rules to ensure that data centers "recover the full, incremental cost" of energy grid upgrades. The shift would help shield local ratepayers' monthly electricity bills from hikes, according to those sponsoring the legislation.
..... The bill passed unanimously out of the House energy and commerce Committee in July. [2026]
..... Contributing: Reuters