Comer & Raskin Introduce the Federal AI Governance and Transparency Act

WASHINGTON— House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) introduced H.R. 7532 the Federal AI Governance and Transparency Act, which focuses government resources on increasing transparency, oversight, and responsible use of federal AI systems while protecting the public’s privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. The bipartisan bill centrally codifies federal governance of agency AI systems, establishes new mechanisms for transparency and accountability, and consolidates and streamlines other existing AI laws.

“Agencies have already begun to use artificial intelligence to improve oversight, save taxpayer dollars, and increase government efficiency. The bipartisan Federal AI Governance and Transparency Act ensures that the federal government’s use of AI will improve government operations while protecting privacy, civil rights and civil liberties, and upholding American values. We look forward to taking up this bipartisan bill this week at the Oversight Committee’s markup,” said Chairman Comer.

“Like the telephone, the computer, and the Internet, artificial intelligence is a revolutionary new technology that will remake our society, our commerce, our government and our lives. In Congress we must act to make sure that AI works to improve public functions but does not undermine our constitutional rights, liberties and values.  We’re introducing the bipartisan Federal AI Governance and Transparency Act to ensure that any federal AI use promotes the fair, just, and impartial treatment of all.  It would also create an oversight framework that will help Congress effectively meet the challenges of this powerful new technology over time,” said Ranking Member Raskin.

Original cosponsors of the bill include Representatives Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Clay Higgins (R-La.), Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.), and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).

Key Provisions of the Federal AI Governance and Transparency Act:

• Defines Federal Standards for Responsible AI Use:codifies in law key safeguards for the development, acquisition, use, management, and oversight of AI used by federal agencies. 
• Strengthens Governmentwide Federal AI Use Policy Authority and Requirements: recodifies and clarifies the role of the Office of Management and Budget in issuing governmentwide policy guidance, in harmony with existing federal IT and data policy requirements.
• Establishes Agency AI Governance Charters: requires the publication of governance charters for high-risk AI systems and other AI systems used by federal agencies that interact with sensitive personal records covered by the Privacy Act. The charters would provide the public and oversight entities with an array of transparency and accountability information essential for effective oversight, including information on testing and validation processes, responsible agency officials, maintenance plans, and the downstream impacts on agency programs or determinations related to financial assistance or regulatory enforcement.
• Creates Additional Public Accountability Mechanisms: establishes a notification process for any individual or entity that has been substantively and meaningfully affected by an agency determination influenced by AI, and requires agencies to ensure existing appeals processes provide an opportunity for alternative review independent of AI.
• Repeals Repetitive Law: streamlines and consolidates existing law regarding the government’s use of AI, including requirements for agencies to provide protections or safeguards for Federal AI systems that are commensurate with risk, and repeals repetitive provisions in the AI in Government Act of 2020 and the 2022 Advancing American AI Act.
• Harmonizes with Existing Law: requires existing Privacy Act PII record notice requirements and Federal Acquisition Regulation procurement rules to be updated.

Read the bill text here. The House Oversight Committee will consider the Federal AI Governance and Transparency Act at a markup on Thursday, March 7 at 10:00am ET.