Trahan: Why Congress Must Lead on AI Standards

Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, penned an op-ed in The Boston Globe underscoring the need for a strong national strategy on artificial intelligence. In the piece, she argues that Congress should not sit on the sidelines but rather lead this push as AI evolves and the risks to American workers and national security evolve with it. “AI is moving at breakneck speed, producing newer and more powerful models that pose real risks to safety, national security, and the nation’s workforce,” Congresswoman Trahan wrote. “Each day that passes without a comprehensive federal standard puts us further behind, and puts every American at greater risk.” The op-ed follows Trahan’s release of the Great American Artificial Intelligence Act (GAAIA) , a bipartisan discussion draft to create a federal framework for how the United States governs artificial intelligence. The discussion draft was co-authored by Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) and released alongside Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Scott Franklin (R-FL-18), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), and Erin Houchin (R-IN-09). Trahan addressed states' role directly in today’s piece. “In the lack of federal action, states have stepped in to fill the void. States like California, New York, and Illinois have passed laws to target potential catastrophic risks when AI models are developed,” Congresswoman Trahan continued. “Massachusetts lawmakers are targeting the harms of AI usage, including by chatbots and AI-generated sex abuse imagery. This is important progress, and the leadership of our state lawmakers has finally spurred the early stages of a federal response.” Trahan also laid out the consequences if Congress fails to act on AI, comparing it to the federal government’s inability to pass regulations on large social media companies. “In the absence of a federal regulatory framework, power concentrates in the hands of a small number of companies racing to build the most potent technology in human history,” Congresswoman Trahan argued. “They ask us to trust them while they write the rules of the road themselves. We’ve seen this movie before. Lawmakers spent the last two decades playing catch-up to social media giants, and the public is still paying the price.” Since announcing The Great American AI Act discussion draft, Trahan has stated that the federal government must set uniform safety rules for how the most powerful models are developed and tested. The draft legislation proposes a federal standard for three years, that would elevate the very best of the handful of state laws in place and make them the federal standard. While states retain full power to determine how AI is deployed and used, from hiring and housing to health care, education, chatbots, and more. GAAIA was released as a discussion draft, and Trahan has spent the past week calling for stakeholders, researchers, and members of the public to submit feedback. Those interested in weighing in on the bill are encouraged to reach out at GAAIA@mail.house.gov . Text of the discussion draft can be accessed HERE . A section-by-section summary can be accessed HERE . A frequently asked questions document prepared by the Office of Congresswoman Lori Trahan can be accessed HERE . The full op-ed is available at The Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/12/opinion/ai-state-regulations/ ###