Rep. Gabe Evans’ Open-Source AI Leadership Act Passes Energy & Commerce Subcommittee

September 1, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Gabe Evans’ Open-Source AI Leadership Act passed the the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, advancing the legislation for consideration by the full Committee. Rep. Evans introduced the legislation to strengthen America’s leadership in open-source artificial intelligence as the United States competes with China for technological dominance — in addition to encouraging commonsense guardrails on this technology to protect consumers. The bill directs the Department of Commerce to support the adoption and use of American open AI models by identifying barriers, coordinating with American companies and startups, and developing policies that help U.S. innovation compete at home and around the world. The legislation also takes aim at the growing national security and economic risks posed by AI models developed by foreign adversaries. It requires the Commerce Department to assess risks involving Americans’ personal and proprietary information, supply-chain security, model accuracy and censorship, safeguards against misuse, and threats involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or other national security capabilities. If enacted, the Commerce Department will publicly report its findings and compare the adoption, cost, capabilities, and performance of foreign adversary models with qualified American open models. “The race for AI leadership is a race America cannot afford to lose. Communist China is working every day to outcompete us, steal American innovation, and expand its technological influence around the world. We should be making it easier for our nation's innovators and startups to build, compete, and lead. This bill helps unleash American open-source AI while implementing common sense consumer protections. It also creates safeguard to identify and counter national security threats from foreign adversaries. America built the technologies that changed the world, and we’re going to keep leading.” –– Congressman Gabe Evans The Open-Source AI Leadership Act will: Support American open-source AI by identifying and addressing barriers that prevent U.S.-developed models from being adopted and used. Connect government with American innovators, including startups, to strengthen adoption of U.S. open AI models. Expose risks from foreign adversary AI, including threats to Americans’ data, cybersecurity, supply chains, national security, and economic security. Increase transparency by requiring public assessments of leading foreign adversary AI models and comparisons with American alternatives. The legislation defines qualified open models as those developed and made available by U.S. persons and excludes models developed or made available by covered nations or entities controlled by them. To read the full bill click here . Issues : Congress Public Safety Energy