1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose any federal moratorium on state-level artificial intelligence regulations. Recent Republican efforts to prohibit states from regulating AI for 10 years, including attempts to add such language to H.R. 1 and proposed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, would strip away critical consumer protections that states have already enacted. Over 30 states have passed laws regulating specific aspects of AI, including protections against deepfakes and nonconsensual and child pornography. These state-level safeguards address real harms that communities are experiencing right now. A 10-year federal ban on state AI regulation would eliminate these protections and prevent states from responding to emerging threats as AI technology rapidly evolves. This approach prioritizes the interests of big tech corporations over the safety and privacy of your constituents. AI presents unknown risks that we are only beginning to understand, from algorithmic bias in hiring and lending to privacy violations and the spread of harmful synthetic media. States have been laboratories of democracy on this issue, developing targeted regulations that protect their residents while allowing innovation to continue. Rather than preempting state action, Congress should be working to establish strong federal AI regulations that set a floor, not a ceiling, for consumer protection. A federal moratorium would create a regulatory vacuum that benefits tech companies at the expense of ordinary people who deserve safeguards against AI-enabled discrimination, fraud, and privacy violations. I ask that you protect the safeguards already put in place by states and work to pass strong and effective AI regulation at the federal level. Please oppose any legislative language or executive action that would impose a moratorium on state AI laws. Your constituents need you to prioritize their safety and privacy over corporate interests.