H.R. 8345

119 HR 8345 IH: Economy of the Future Commission Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-16
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8345  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 16, 2026   Mr. Obernolte  (for himself and  Ms. Jacobs ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Science, Space, and Technology , and in addition to the Committees on  Energy and Commerce ,  Transportation and Infrastructure ,  Oversight and Government Reform , and  Education and Workforce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned   A BILL
To establish the Economy of the Future Commission, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Economy of the Future Commission Act of 2026  .
2.
Economy of the Future Commission
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Applicable congressional committee
The term  applicable congressional committee  means any of the following committees:
(A)
The Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Committee on Finance, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(B)
The Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Education and Workforce, the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(2)
Artificial intelligence
The term  artificial intelligence  has the meaning given the term in section 5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 ( 15 U.S.C. 9401 ).
(3)
Commission
The term  Commission  means the Economy of the Future Commission established under subsection (b).
(4)
Congressional leader
The term  congressional leader  means the majority leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the Senate, or the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(5)
NAICS
The term  NAICS  means the North American Industry Classification System.
(b)
In general
There is established in the legislative branch a commission to develop consensus legislative recommendations addressing economic changes caused by the adoption of artificial intelligence, to be known as the  Economy of the Future Commission .
(c)
Membership
(1)
In general
The Commission shall be composed of the following members:
(A)
12 members appointed by Congress in accordance with paragraph (2), of whom—
(i)
the majority leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint 3 members; and
(ii)
the minority leader of the Senate and the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint 3 members.
(B)
The Deputy Secretary of Education, as a nonvoting member.
(C)
The Deputy Secretary of Labor, as a nonvoting member.
(D)
The Deputy Secretary of Commerce, as a nonvoting member.
(E)
The Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, as a nonvoting member.
(2)
Congressional appointees
Each congressional leader making appointments under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
appoint 1 member who is serving as a Member of the house of Congress in which the congressional leader serves and is a member of an applicable congressional committee; and
(B)
for any remaining appointments, appoint an individual who is not serving in Congress and who is nationally recognized for expertise, knowledge, or experience in—
(i)
artificial intelligence technology;
(ii)
education;
(iii)
workforce retraining; or
(iv)
taxation.
(3)
Appointment
Members of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(4)
Ethics
A congressional leader who appoints members of the Commission may not appoint an individual as a member of the Commission if such individual possesses any personal or financial interest in the discharge of any of the duties of the Commission.
(d)
Co-Chairs
(1)
In general
The Commission shall have 2 co-chairs, selected jointly by the congressional leaders from among the members of the Commission in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2)
Co-chair requirements
One co-chair of the Commission shall be a member of the Democratic Party, and one co-chair shall be a member of the Republican Party. One co-chair of the Commission shall be a Member of the House of Representatives and one co-chair shall be a Senator.
(e)
Meetings; quorum; vacancies
(1)
Initial meeting
The Commission shall hold its initial meeting on or before the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2)
Additional meetings
After its initial meeting, the Commission shall meet upon the call of the co-chairs of the Commission.
(3)
Quorum
7 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting business, except that 2 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for purposes of receiving testimony.
(4)
Vacancies
Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
(5)
Quorum with vacancies
If vacancies in the Commission occur on any day after 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the Commission as of such day.
(f)
Actions of Commission
(1)
In general
The Commission shall act by resolution agreed to by a majority of the members of the Commission voting and present.
(2)
Panels
The Commission may establish panels composed of less than the full membership of the Commission for purposes of carrying out the duties of the Commission under this section. The actions of any such panel shall be subject to the review and control of the Commission. Any findings and determinations made by such a panel shall not be considered the findings and determinations of the Commission unless approved by the Commission.
(3)
Delegation
Any member, agent, or staff of the Commission may, if authorized by the co-chairs of the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to take pursuant to this section.
(g)
Duties
The duties of the Commission are—
(1)
in general, to develop consensus legislative recommendations addressing economic changes caused by the adoption of artificial intelligence;
(2)
to evaluate the effectiveness of, and develop consensus legislative recommendations that address and respond to the economic changes caused by, the adoption of artificial intelligence, including the effectiveness and economic changes of that adoption for—
(A)
government data, research, and measurement;
(B)
workforce development programs;
(C)
kindergarten through grade 12 public education, career and technical education, and higher education; and
(D)
social safety net programs and worker support;
(3)
to develop consensus legislative recommendations addressing—
(A)
the development of standards and metrics to evaluate and address artificial intelligence adoption across the Federal Government, including standards and metrics to identify and address artificial intelligence-specific skill and training needs across the Federal workforce;
(B)
the relative merits of open-source and open-weight models of artificial intelligence for suitability for small- and medium-sized businesses and the use of open-source and open-weight models to improve the efficiency of government operations;
(C)
the potential for a national Federal artificial intelligence research investment strategy;
(D)
public and private sector partnerships to increase research access by academic institutions and small businesses to private sector computing, models, data, and software resources related to artificial intelligence;
(E)
developing and scaling foundational manufacturing technologies related to artificial intelligence through government programs and public-private partnerships such as the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Program established under section 25(b) of the National Institute of Standards and Technologies Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k );
(F)
supply chain and manufacturing challenges to developing emerging technologies that are projected to heavily utilize artificial intelligence, such as robotics;
(G)
the need for public and private sector collaboration in developing cloud computing-based laboratories for furthering research into key technology focus areas, as defined in section 10387(c) of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 19107(c) ), utilizing artificial intelligence;
(H)
changes to transportation safety policies and regulations caused by the adoption of artificial intelligence in land-, air-, and sea-based autonomous vehicles;
(I)
energy generation, storage, and transmission demands caused by the development of the artificial intelligence industry and the construction and operation of domestic data centers; and
(J)
the use of artificial intelligence-enabled robotics in government (other than in the Department of Defense) and industry; and
(4)
to prepare the reports required under subsection (k).
(h)
Powers of Commission
(1)
In general
The Commission or, on the authorization of the Commission, any subcommittee or member of, the Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section—
(A)
hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths; and
(B)
require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents, as the Commission or such designated subcommittee or designated member considers necessary.
(2)
Subpoenas
Subpoenas may be issued under paragraph (1)(B) under the signature of the co-chairs of the Commission, and may be served by any person designated by such co-chairs.
(3)
Failure to comply
The provisions of sections 102 through 104 of the Revised Statutes (2 U.S.C. 192 through 194) shall apply in the case of any failure of a witness to comply with any subpoena or to testify when summoned under authority of this section.
(4)
Contracting
The Commission may, to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts, enter into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this section.
(5)
Information from Federal agencies
(A)
In general
The Commission may secure directly from any executive department, agency, bureau, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Government information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purposes of this section.
(B)
Response
Each such department, agency, bureau, board, commission, office, establishment, or instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Commission, upon request of the co-chairs of the Commission.
(C)
Classified information
The Commission shall handle and protect all classified information provided to it under this section in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations.
(6)
Assistance from Federal agencies
(A)
In general
Federal departments and agencies may provide the Commission such services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support as such departments and agencies consider advisable and as may be authorized by law.
(B)
Cooperation
The Commission shall receive the full and timely cooperation of any official, department, or agency of the Federal Government whose assistance is necessary, as jointly determined by the co-chairs, for the fulfillment of the duties of the Commission, including the provision of full and current briefings and analyses.
(7)
Postal services
The Commission may use the United States postal services in the same manner and under the same conditions as the departments and agencies of the United States.
(8)
Gifts
(A)
No gifts for service
No member or staff of the Commission may receive a gift or benefit by reason of the service of such member or staff to the Commission.
(B)
Authority to accept gifts
The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property (including goods) from non-Federal entities for the purposes of aiding and facilitating the work of the Commission. The authority in this subparagraph does not extend to gifts of money.
(i)
Staff of Commission
(1)
In general
The co-chairs of the Commission, in accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission, shall appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its duties, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable to a person occupying a position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
(2)
Experts and consultants
The co-chairs of the Commission may procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, as if the Commission were an agency described in that section, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of such title.
(3)
Detailees
Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the Commission, and such detailee shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption.
(j)
Compensation and travel expenses
(1)
Compensation
(A)
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), each member of the Commission may be compensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the Commission under this section.
(B)
Exclusion
Members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the United States or Members of Congress shall receive no additional pay by reason of their service on the Commission.
(2)
Travel expenses
While away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission, members of the Commission may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(k)
Reports
(1)
Interim report
By not later than 7 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue an interim report, to be disseminated to the public, including—
(A)
(i)
the initial estimates of changes in employment due to the adoption of artificial intelligence for 5 years and 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, by 6-digit NAICS code; and
(ii)
the Commission's level of confidence in such estimates;
(B)
(i)
Federal revenue estimates for tax years beginning 5 and 10 years after the enactment of this Act; and
(ii)
commentary by the Commission on the likelihood that the adoption of artificial intelligence will increase or decrease revenue during each time period described in clause (i); and
(C)
a description of high-quality, free resources that the public can access to learn more about artificial intelligence and the effects that its wide adoption may have on the global economy.
(2)
Final report
(A)
In general
By not later than 13 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall prepare and submit a final report regarding the impact of the adoption of artificial intelligence that includes legislative recommendations on artificial intelligence education, reskilling of employees needed due to the adoption of artificial intelligence, unemployment insurance, and taxation policy, and on maintaining global competitiveness in key industries including technology and manufacturing.
(B)
Submission
The report required under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted to the report to each of the applicable congressional committees and to the Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of Education.
(C)
Assessments of final report
By not later than 60 days after the date on which the final report is submitted under subparagraph (B), the Secretaries of Treasury, Commerce, Labor, and Education shall individually submit an assessment of the final report to the applicable congressional committees.
(l)
Inapplicability of certain administrative provisions
(1)
Federal Advisory Committee Act
The provisions of  chapter 10  of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to the  Federal Advisory Committee Act ), shall not apply to the activities of the Commission under this section.
(2)
Freedom of Information Act
The provisions of section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the  Freedom of Information Act ), shall not apply to the activities (including proceedings) or records of the Commission under this section.
(m)
Termination
(1)
In general
The Commission, and all the authorities of this section, shall terminate on the last day of the 120-day period beginning on the date on which the final report described in subsection (k)(2) is submitted to the applicable congressional committees.
(2)
Closing activities
The Commission may use the 120-day period immediately preceding termination for the purposes of concluding its activities, including providing testimony to Congress concerning the final report described in subsection (k)(2) and disseminating the report.
(n)
Funding
There is appropriated, out of any amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $5,250,000 to carry out this section, to remain available until the date on which the Commission terminates under subsection (m)(1).