The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) has joined over 60 organizations in urging Congress to prioritize legislation that supports the establishment of a U.S. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Institute within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In a letter addressed to Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader Jeffries, and Republican Leader McConnell, the coalition calls on Congress to enact bills that would provide essential resources and authorization for the Institute’s research, testing, and evaluation of AI system safety. The creation of this Institute is vital for advancing U.S. innovation, competitiveness, and national security in AI, particularly as other countries establish their own AI safety frameworks.
With bipartisan bills—S. 4178 in the Senate and H.R. 9497 in the House—already advancing, there is a unique opportunity to solidify NIST’s role in AI safety. The letter emphasizes that this legislation will allow the U.S. to lead multilateral AI safety efforts and prevent other nations from setting global AI standards. The coalition looks forward to working with Congress to ensure that the U.S. maintains its leadership in the responsible development of AI technologies.
