WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Tuesday confirmed the launch of a new Democratic Commission on AI and the Innovation Economy that will convene throughout 2026.
The commission, the top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives says, is tasked with developing policy expertise in partnership with the innovation community, relevant stakeholders and committees of jurisdiction.
Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu (CA-36), AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act originating sponsor Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) will serve as Co-Chairs.
Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Ranking Member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, and Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, will serve as Ex Officio Co-Chairs.
Democrats that served on the Bipartisan AI Task Force last Congress will hold key roles, and all Members of the House Democratic Caucus will be invited to participate.
Jeffries commented, “The brilliance and ingenuity of the innovation community has positioned America to lead the world in artificial intelligence and pioneer potentially life-changing breakthroughs in medicine and other fields of human endeavor that will benefit humanity. It is important that American companies continue to thrive in this area. At the same time, Congress must consider what policies are needed to prevent bad actors from exploiting this transformative technology and inflicting harm upon the American people.”
As he sees it, Republicans “abandoned” the Bipartisan Task Force on AI. “At this watershed moment in technological history, the people we are privileged to represent understandably have questions about how AI will affect their lives into the future,” Jeffries added. “House Democrats are ready, willing and able to lean into those issues so we can uplift the health, safety and economic well-being of the American people.”
