TWO SAN DIEGO REPRESENTATIVES NAMED TO HOUSE TASK FORCE ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: cc via Bing

February 21, 2024 (San Diego)—San Diego will be well represented on the House of Representatives’ new Task Force on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The bipartisan task force’s 24 members include two from San Diego—Democrat Sara Jacobs and Republican Darrell Issa.

The goals of the task force are to explore how Congress can drive innovation and maintain American leadership in AI, assure fair usage of the technology across numerous industries, and safeguard against current and emerging threats.

Issa was appointed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, while Jacobs was named by Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries. Both have backgrounds in technology.

Jacobs grew up in a technology family, as the granddaughter of Qualcomm’s founder.

She’s the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, where she has focused on ensuring AI global governance systems are inclusive.

Jacobs states, “As one of the youngest Members of Congress, I’m painfully aware of how outdated our laws are and how we’ve largely failed to keep up with technology.”

She adds that as a task force member, she looks forward to expanding access to the opportunities created by AI, setting up guardrails to prioritize safety and fairness, and protecting against harmful outcomes such as bias and discrimination.

Jacobs notes that the technology holds both promise and peril, concluding, “With thoughtful and deliberate rules, AI can help strengthen democracy and uphold human and civil rights around the world – instead of being a tool for further democratic backsliding.”

Issa chairs the  House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, where he has convened hearings on the issue, its technological potential, and the proper role of government. He also held a roundtable discussion with over 20 industry leaders and plans to hold future forums. He has also owned a company that developed Viper car alarms.

Issa says, “The limitless possibility of AI is here, and with it, the next opportunity for incomparable American leadership in technology and innovation." But he voices qualms about over-regulation. "These are the stakes, and rather than looking to regulate right away, now is the time for the government to listen, learn, and resolve to bring out the best AI has to offer so it can change our lives for the better,”he concludes, adding that he looks forward to working with his colleagues to  “make sure Congress gets AI right.”



Full membership of the task force is as follows,including seven California members:



Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Chair      Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Co-Chair

Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-48)                     Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-16)

Rep. French Hill (AR-02)                      Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09)

Rep. Michael Cloud (TX-27)                Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11)

Rep. Neal Dunn (FL-02)                       Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Rep. Ben Cline (VA-06)                        Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06)

Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03)                  Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08)

Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-18)                  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)

Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-45)                 Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11)

Rep. Eric Burlison (MO-07)                  Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51)

Rep. Laurel Lee (FL-15)                        Rep. Valerie Foushee (NC-04)

Rep. Rich McCormick (GA-06)             Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07)