Ai in Government Act of 2020

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2575, the AI in Government Act.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, has the potential to improve our Federal workforce's productivity and to solve complex government challenges.

By responsibly increasing the utilization of AI in the Federal Government, we can streamline burdensome administrative tasks and better allocate finite resources. AI can potentially save the Federal Government billions of dollars and countless man-hours.

Artificial intelligence tools can also free Federal workers from mundane tasks, giving them time for more challenging work. In fact, a Deloitte report from 2017 estimated that the Federal Government could potentially save 1.2 billion employee labor-hours by automating certain tasks. That could potentially save the Federal Government up to $41 billion, annually.

AI can also improve Federal policy decisions by presenting new insights and improving the quality of information available to decisionmakers.

AI represents a force multiplier benefiting the American people in an era of soaring Federal deficits and increasing complexity of various Federal agency missions and programs. The taxpayers should especially benefit from a smarter, more effective government.

The good news is that the government agencies are well on their way to realizing the benefits of artificial intelligence technology solutions. A 2018 survey by IBM found that nearly half of the responding Federal agencies already incorporated AI solutions.

The Trump administration has already made advancement of AI a national priority. In February of 2019, President Trump issued the executive order on ``Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence.''

The executive order promotes national research and development efforts, workforce training, and technology standards. However, it did not go as far as to establish the necessary accountability or governing policies for Federal agencies using AI tools. But the AI in Government Act does, because, along with the potential of AI, there are attending concerns and considerations regarding its ethical use which must be taken into account to maintain the trust and confidence of the American people.

H.R. 2575 ensures proper oversight over the government's increasing use of AI. The bill requires the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science and Technology Policy to issue a memorandum to agencies to inform the development of agency AI policy plans. These agency plans will provide greater insight into agency AI activities and will ensure public accountability over how Federal agencies incorporate AI tools into their mission delivery and decisionmaking.

Mr. Speaker, we must tap into the benefits AI has to offer, and, with this bill, we can do it with proper oversight and accountability. I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York.

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Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, artificial intelligence is leading to breakthroughs in productivity in industries across the Nation such as science, transportation, healthcare, and education. The American people deserve a government that takes full advantage of modern technology in a responsible manner.

H.R. 2575 will help assure the proper governance and oversight over the Federal Government's use of a rapidly advancing and promising technology area.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 2575, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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