On January 14, Congress held two potentially consequential hearings on the nation’s strategic approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI). The House Committee on Education and Workforce focused on the impacts of AI on students and workers, while the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology examined the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) AI Action Plan. The hearings offered insight into Congress’s approach to AI policy across education, workforce development, and national competitiveness.
Building an AI-Ready America
The Education and Workforce Committee hearing positioned AI as a technological challenge as well as education and workforce issues. Throughout the hearing, a clear consensus emerged: an “AI-ready” America is much more than the speed of adoption; it requires a strategy that prioritizes safety guardrails and equitable access. The four witnesses across academia, non-profit, and the private sector laid out a roadmap for a future where technology benefits Americans rather than replaces them.
Across testimonies, three priorities emerged: AI literacy, responsible and ethical AI deployment, and keeping humans central in AI-enabled processes. These discussions emphasize the need for behavioral and brain scientists’ understanding of how students process AI information and how workers interact with these tools. Congresswoman Alma Adams questioned if we are “building sustainable pathways for students and future workers or simply chasing a technological gold rush.”
Advancing AI Action Plan
Michael Kratsios, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), testified on the AI Action Plan. Kratsios framed AI as the centerpiece of national competitiveness, citing the Genesis Mission as a key driver of the plan’s success (see previous FABBS article).
Despite the administration’s focus on “innovation dominance” the hearing revealed significant structural concerns regarding the plan’s long-term execution. The AI Action Plan relies on heavy investments in K-12 education and regional workforce reskilling, but several congresspeople expressed alarm over the Administration’s threat to dismantle the Department of Education.
As Congress continues to define the nation’s AI governance framework, FABBS remains committed to ensuring the behavioral and brain sciences are a foundational component. FABBS will continue to advocate for policy and research funding that keeps the human element at the forefront of the AI revolution.
