CAIP Applauds the Romney-Led, Bipartisan Bill to Address Catastrophic AI Risks

Washington, DC— Yesterday, a bipartisan coalition of US Senators introduced a landmark bill to address catastrophic AI risks. US Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Angus King (I-ME), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) proposed the first federal framework for frontier AI oversight to prevent threats from weapons of mass destruction. Jason Green-Lowe, executive director of the Center for AI Policy (CAIP), a nonpartisan research organization dedicated to mitigating the catastrophic risks of AI through policy development and advocacy, released the following statement:

"The Center for AI Policy strongly commends the introduction of groundbreaking bipartisan legislation to address catastrophic risks from artificial intelligence. This landmark bill introduced by Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Angus King (I-ME), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) is the first federal bill to provide for robust oversight of frontier AI systems. This legislation would focus on protecting America against AI-supported chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and cyber threats.

"The Preserving American Dominance in AI Act proposes the creation of the Artificial Intelligence Safety Review Office within the Department of Commerce, to be led by a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary. This new office would deploy a team of 50 technical experts to review advanced AI models to ensure they incorporate robust safeguards against potential misuse in weapons of mass destruction or automated cyberattacks.

"This legislation buys us a great deal of security at little or no cost to innovation. It combines business-friendly elements, including a presumption of approval and a 90-day review deadline, with stringent enforcement mechanisms - including potential jail time and daily fines of up to one million dollars for known violations. The bill also introduces crucial know-your-customer requirements for major vendors of advanced AI hardware.

"While this legislation arrives too late for passage in the current Congress, it establishes a vital blueprint for action in 2025. The evolving nature of AI demands prompt attention when the 119th Congress convenes. This bill demonstrates that bipartisan cooperation can produce effective measures to ensure safe AI while preserving American leadership in AI innovation.

"The urgency of addressing AI safety cannot be overstated. The 119th Congress must build on this momentum to pass robust safeguards like those proposed in this legislation."

The Center for AI Policy (CAIP) is a nonpartisan research organization dedicated to mitigating the catastrophic risks of AI through policy development and advocacy. Based in Washington, DC, CAIP works to ensure AI is developed and implemented with effective safety standards. Learn more at centeraipolicy.org.

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