The Chamber of Progress, a center-left tech industry policy coalition, sent a November 4 memorandum to Democratic leaders in the House and Senate urging the 2027 Congress to adopt federal artificial-intelligence safety standards. The document frames the request as part of a broader agenda to boost consumer protection and expand public access to emerging technologies.
Among ten items on the list, the coalition places a federal AI transparency and safety standard at the top. “Democrats should establish a national AI framework,” the group’s vice-president of policy and government relations, Koustubh KJ Bagchi, wrote. The proposal calls for public disclosure, independent assessment and enforceable safeguards for the most capable models.
Bagchi also urges Congress to require developers to publish safety frameworks, report critical incidents and protect whistleblowers. He cites the FRONTIER Act, introduced in July by Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., and Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., as a legislative template. That bill seeks to create a national regime governing the development and deployment of the most advanced AI systems.
The memo proposes an oversight entity modeled after the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, allowing industry funding while retaining federal supervision. Bagchi stresses that strong national protections should align overlapping state rules yet leave state authority intact for issues such as fraud, discrimination, child protection and other harmful conduct.
Beyond AI, the document touches on data-center policy, online safety for children, workforce upskilling in an AI-driven economy, autonomous-vehicle regulation and cryptocurrency rules. Its release follows Tuesday’s midterm elections, which gave Democrats control of both chambers, and several newly elected members have pledged to prioritize AI safety once the new Congress convenes in January.
Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., posted on X that the top Democratic agenda on day 1 should include a pause on advanced AI development, regulation of the industry and a ban on artificial superintelligence. An NBC News exit poll reported that 56 percent of voters said AI and data centers were a crucial factor in their congressional choice, while 44 percent considered them a minor or no factor.