This bill, titled the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act of 2026, aims to enhance Taiwan's energy security by increasing U.S. liquefied natural gas exports to Taiwan and improving the resilience of its energy infrastructure. The legislation authorizes U.S. government agencies to coordinate with Taiwan on energy projects, provide technical assistance for cybersecurity and physical security improvements, and establish a joint U.S.-Taiwan Energy Security Center. It also directs an assessment of redirecting U.S. LNG exports currently sent to China to Taiwan and encourages Taiwan to maintain and expand its nuclear power capabilities. Additionally, the bill provides for insurance on vessels transporting critical goods to Taiwan and clarifies that the measures do not alter the U.S. One China policy.
This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to create standards and guidelines for making federal government data easier for artificial intelligence systems to use. It requires federal agencies to make their open data available in machine-readable formats, ensure data quality and documentation, and address privacy and intellectual property concerns. The bill mandates a public comment process and requires the President to issue requirements for agencies to adopt these standards within one year of enactment. Additionally, it specifically requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to prepare its weather and climate data for AI and machine learning applications in forecasting.
This bill, known as the HBCU AI Research Leadership Act, directs the Department of Energy to set aside at least 10% of its funding for national artificial intelligence research institutes specifically for historically Black colleges and universities. The legislation amends the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to ensure these institutions can receive financial assistance to establish and support AI research programs, either individually or through partnerships with other educational institutions. By adding a formal definition for historically Black colleges and universities, the bill clarifies which schools qualify for this designated funding allocation. The measure aims to increase participation and capacity in AI research within HBCUs without changing the overall funding structure of the national AI initiative.
This bill establishes a grant program within the Department of Labor to help create and expand registered apprenticeship programs focused on cybersecurity training. The program would provide funding to workforce intermediaries, which can be partnerships involving businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations, to develop apprenticeships that lead to specific cybersecurity careers. Grant recipients must use at least 85 percent of funds for program development, employer partnerships, and support services like mentorship and transportation assistance for apprentices, while up to 15 percent can be used for outreach and marketing. The apprenticeships would cover technical instruction and industry-recognized certifications in areas such as network security, ethical hacking, and system administration, targeting occupations like cybersecurity technicians and computer systems analysts.
This bill, known as the SEEDS Act of 2026, would allow digital asset indexes to be included as eligible investments within Trump accounts, which are special tax-advantaged investment accounts. The legislation amends the Internal Revenue Code to add digital asset indexes to the list of permitted investments alongside other traditional assets. Additionally, the bill makes permanent a pilot program for Trump accounts that was previously set to expire in 2029, removing time limits on the program's operation. These changes would affect individuals who currently use or wish to use Trump accounts for investing, expanding the range of assets they can hold within these tax-advantaged structures.
This bill prohibits AI chatbots from misleading users into believing they are licensed professionals in fields like law, healthcare, finance, accounting, or insurance. It requires companies deploying AI chatbots to avoid generating content that falsely implies the AI has professional credentials or human verification from a licensed practitioner. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce these rules as unfair or deceptive practices, while state attorneys general could also sue for violations and seek damages. Individuals harmed by such violations could file lawsuits to recover actual losses or up to $5,000 per violation, with higher penalties for willful misconduct.
This bill, known as the Safe Cloud Storage Act, would provide legal protection for private companies that store child sexual abuse material on behalf of law enforcement agencies. It directly affects technology firms and cloud storage providers that contract with police departments and prosecutors to keep digital evidence of child exploitation. The legislation limits liability for these approved vendors by shielding them from civil lawsuits and criminal charges when performing their contractual duties, except in cases of intentional misconduct, negligence, or acting with reckless disregard. To qualify for this protection, vendors must meet strict cybersecurity requirements including end-to-end encryption, regular independent audits, keeping data within the United States, and maintaining detailed records of who accesses the sensitive material. The bill also establishes procedures for notifying the Department of Justice about contracts and ensures evidence is preserved if a law enforcement agency fails to pay or breaches the agreement.
This bill requires the Department of Defense to promote competition when purchasing artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data infrastructure services by mandating competitive award processes and prioritizing multi-cloud technology. It defines covered providers as companies with at least $50 million in DoD contracts over five years and restricts how these vendors can use government-provided data, prohibiting unauthorized use for training commercial products. The legislation also establishes annual reporting requirements to Congress on market competition and innovation in the AI sector, including details on any exemptions granted for national security reasons.
This bill requires telecommunications companies to use a federal system called the National Verifier to check if customers qualify for the Lifeline program, which provides discounted phone or internet service. It stops carriers in certain states from using their own state-run verification methods instead of the federal system. The law applies to all companies that currently offer Lifeline service and mandates they verify every customer's eligibility through the National Verifier before providing the discounted service. This change aims to standardize how eligibility is confirmed across different states and prevent duplicate benefits.
This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to create definitions, standards, and frameworks to ensure biological datasets from federally funded research are compatible with artificial intelligence models. It requires the NIST Director to establish clear criteria for what makes data "AI-ready," including requirements for data formatting and generation methods, while consulting with federal agencies and the private sector. The legislation includes provisions for public feedback, an advisory group to guide implementation, and regular testing to ensure the new standards do not create undue burdens on researchers.