Bills Introduced – 2-3-26
Yesterday, with both the House and Senate in Washington, there were 32 bills introduced. Two of those bills may receive additional coverage in this blog:
HR 7334 To establish a commission on robotics, and for other purposes. Obernolte, Jay [Rep.-R-CA-23]
HR 7338 To amend title 49, United States Code, to codify the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee, and for other purposes. Sykes, Emilia Strong [Rep.-D-OH-13]
Robotic Security
I can find no legislation in the 118th Congress that would appear to be similar to HR 7334. I will be watching this bill for language and definitions that would specifically make cybersecurity of control systems for robots and their supporting infrastructure part of the purview of the commission being established.
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee
I can find no legislation in the 118th Congress that would appear to be similar to HR 7338. The RSAC has been an integral part of the Federal Railroad Administration’s regulatory development process since 1996. I will certainly be following this bill.
MIP Legislation
I would like to mention in passing one bill that will not receive additional coverage in this blog:
HR 7323 Defense Technology Hubs Act of 2026 Bell, Wesley [Rep.-D-MO-1]
This bill (text available) would require DOD to “establish a network of regional defense technology hubs to foster innovation, collaboration, and rapid development of defense-related technologies to attract talent from across the United States”. Unfortunately, the bill would just increase the concentration of defense research and industry in areas where such concentrations already exist. To literally spread the wealth, such regional technology hubs should be located in areas where there are no similar research and production facilities. Adding such hubs to underserved localities would have a synergistic effect on the local economies and infrastructure. The bill would authorize $375 million per year through 2030 to support this program.