H.R. 8345

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8345 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8345

To establish the Economy of the Future Commission, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 16, 2026

Mr. Obernolte (for himself and Ms. Jacobs) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, 
Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Government Reform, and 
Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish the Economy of the Future Commission, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Economy of the Future Commission Act 
of 2026''.

SEC. 2. ECONOMY OF THE FUTURE COMMISSION.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Applicable congressional committee.--The term 
``applicable congressional committee'' means any of the 
following committees:
(A) The Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the 
Committee on Finance, the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate.
(B) The Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology, the Committee on Education and 
Workforce, the Committee on Ways and Means, the 
Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(2) Artificial intelligence.--The term ``artificial 
intelligence'' has the meaning given the term in section 5002 
of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 
(15 U.S.C. 9401).
(3) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Economy 
of the Future Commission established under subsection (b).
(4) Congressional leader.--The term ``congressional 
leader'' means the majority leader of the Senate, the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the 
Senate, or the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(5) NAICS.--The term ``NAICS'' means the North American 
Industry Classification System.
(b) In General.--There is established in the legislative branch a 
commission to develop consensus legislative recommendations addressing 
economic changes caused by the adoption of artificial intelligence, to 
be known as the ``Economy of the Future Commission''.
(c) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of the 
following members:
(A) 12 members appointed by Congress in accordance 
with paragraph (2), of whom--
(i) the majority leader of the Senate and 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
shall each appoint 3 members; and
(ii) the minority leader of the Senate and 
the minority leader of the House of 
Representatives shall each appoint 3 members.
(B) The Deputy Secretary of Education, as a 
nonvoting member.
(C) The Deputy Secretary of Labor, as a nonvoting 
member.
(D) The Deputy Secretary of Commerce, as a 
nonvoting member.
(E) The Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, as a 
nonvoting member.
(2) Congressional appointees.--Each congressional leader 
making appointments under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) appoint 1 member who is serving as a Member of 
the house of Congress in which the congressional leader 
serves and is a member of an applicable congressional 
committee; and
(B) for any remaining appointments, appoint an 
individual who is not serving in Congress and who is 
nationally recognized for expertise, knowledge, or 
experience in--
(i) artificial intelligence technology;
(ii) education;
(iii) workforce retraining; or
(iv) taxation.
(3) Appointment.--Members of the Commission shall be 
appointed not later than 45 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
(4) Ethics.--A congressional leader who appoints members of 
the Commission may not appoint an individual as a member of the 
Commission if such individual possesses any personal or 
financial interest in the discharge of any of the duties of the 
Commission.
(d) Co-Chairs.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall have 2 co-chairs, 
selected jointly by the congressional leaders from among the 
members of the Commission in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Co-chair requirements.--One co-chair of the Commission 
shall be a member of the Democratic Party, and one co-chair 
shall be a member of the Republican Party. One co-chair of the 
Commission shall be a Member of the House of Representatives 
and one co-chair shall be a Senator.
(e) Meetings; Quorum; Vacancies.--
(1) Initial meeting.--The Commission shall hold its initial 
meeting on or before the date that is 60 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
(2) Additional meetings.--After its initial meeting, the 
Commission shall meet upon the call of the co-chairs of the 
Commission.
(3) Quorum.--7 members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum for purposes of conducting business, except that 2 
members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for 
purposes of receiving testimony.
(4) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not 
affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in 
which the original appointment was made.
(5) Quorum with vacancies.--If vacancies in the Commission 
occur on any day after 45 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the 
members of the Commission as of such day.
(f) Actions of Commission.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall act by resolution 
agreed to by a majority of the members of the Commission voting 
and present.
(2) Panels.--The Commission may establish panels composed 
of less than the full membership of the Commission for purposes 
of carrying out the duties of the Commission under this 
section. The actions of any such panel shall be subject to the 
review and control of the Commission. Any findings and 
determinations made by such a panel shall not be considered the 
findings and determinations of the Commission unless approved 
by the Commission.
(3) Delegation.--Any member, agent, or staff of the 
Commission may, if authorized by the co-chairs of the 
Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized 
to take pursuant to this section.
(g) Duties.--The duties of the Commission are--
(1) in general, to develop consensus legislative 
recommendations addressing economic changes caused by the 
adoption of artificial intelligence;
(2) to evaluate the effectiveness of, and develop consensus 
legislative recommendations that address and respond to the 
economic changes caused by, the adoption of artificial 
intelligence, including the effectiveness and economic changes 
of that adoption for--
(A) government data, research, and measurement;
(B) workforce development programs;
(C) kindergarten through grade 12 public education, 
career and technical education, and higher education; 
and
(D) social safety net programs and worker support;
(3) to develop consensus legislative recommendations 
addressing--
(A) the development of standards and metrics to 
evaluate and address artificial intelligence adoption 
across the Federal Government, including standards and 
metrics to identify and address artificial 
intelligence-specific skill and training needs across 
the Federal workforce;
(B) the relative merits of open-source and open-
weight models of artificial intelligence for 
suitability for small- and medium-sized businesses and 
the use of open-source and open-weight models to 
improve the efficiency of government operations;
(C) the potential for a national Federal artificial 
intelligence research investment strategy;
(D) public and private sector partnerships to 
increase research access by academic institutions and 
small businesses to private sector computing, models, 
data, and software resources related to artificial 
intelligence;
(E) developing and scaling foundational 
manufacturing technologies related to artificial 
intelligence through government programs and public-
private partnerships such as the Hollings Manufacturing 
Extension Program established under section 25(b) of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technologies 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278k);
(F) supply chain and manufacturing challenges to 
developing emerging technologies that are projected to 
heavily utilize artificial intelligence, such as 
robotics;
(G) the need for public and private sector 
collaboration in developing cloud computing-based 
laboratories for furthering research into key 
technology focus areas, as defined in section 10387(c) 
of the Research and Development, Competition, and 
Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19107(c)), utilizing 
artificial intelligence;
(H) changes to transportation safety policies and 
regulations caused by the adoption of artificial 
intelligence in land-, air-, and sea-based autonomous 
vehicles;
(I) energy generation, storage, and transmission 
demands caused by the development of the artificial 
intelligence industry and the construction and 
operation of domestic data centers; and
(J) the use of artificial intelligence-enabled 
robotics in government (other than in the Department of 
Defense) and industry; and
(4) to prepare the reports required under subsection (k).
(h) Powers of Commission.--
(1) In general.--The Commission or, on the authorization of 
the Commission, any subcommittee or member of, the Commission 
may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this 
section--
(A) hold such hearings and sit and act at such 
times and places, take such testimony, receive such 
evidence, and administer such oaths; and
(B) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the 
attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the 
production of such books, records, correspondence, 
memoranda, papers, and documents, as the Commission or 
such designated subcommittee or designated member 
considers necessary.
(2) Subpoenas.--Subpoenas may be issued under paragraph 
(1)(B) under the signature of the co-chairs of the Commission, 
and may be served by any person designated by such co-chairs.
(3) Failure to comply.--The provisions of sections 102 
through 104 of the Revised Statutes (2 U.S.C. 192 through 194) 
shall apply in the case of any failure of a witness to comply 
with any subpoena or to testify when summoned under authority 
of this section.
(4) Contracting.--The Commission may, to such extent and in 
such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts, 
enter into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its 
duties under this section.
(5) Information from federal agencies.--
(A) In general.--The Commission may secure directly 
from any executive department, agency, bureau, board, 
commission, office, independent establishment, or 
instrumentality of the Government information, 
suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purposes 
of this section.
(B) Response.--Each such department, agency, 
bureau, board, commission, office, establishment, or 
instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by law, 
furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and 
statistics directly to the Commission, upon request of 
the co-chairs of the Commission.
(C) Classified information.--The Commission shall 
handle and protect all classified information provided 
to it under this section in accordance with applicable 
statutes and regulations.
(6) Assistance from federal agencies.--
(A) In general.--Federal departments and agencies 
may provide the Commission such services, funds, 
facilities, staff, and other support as such 
departments and agencies consider advisable and as may 
be authorized by law.
(B) Cooperation.--The Commission shall receive the 
full and timely cooperation of any official, 
department, or agency of the Federal Government whose 
assistance is necessary, as jointly determined by the 
co-chairs, for the fulfillment of the duties of the 
Commission, including the provision of full and current 
briefings and analyses.
(7) Postal services.--The Commission may use the United 
States postal services in the same manner and under the same 
conditions as the departments and agencies of the United 
States.
(8) Gifts.--
(A) No gifts for service.--No member or staff of 
the Commission may receive a gift or benefit by reason 
of the service of such member or staff to the 
Commission.
(B) Authority to accept gifts.--The Commission may 
accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of 
services or property (including goods) from non-Federal 
entities for the purposes of aiding and facilitating 
the work of the Commission. The authority in this 
subparagraph does not extend to gifts of money.
(i) Staff of Commission.--
(1) In general.--The co-chairs of the Commission, in 
accordance with rules agreed upon by the Commission, shall 
appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such 
other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to 
carry out its duties, without regard to the provisions of title 
5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 
competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of 
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title 
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, 
except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may 
exceed the equivalent of that payable to a person occupying a 
position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 
5316 of such title.
(2) Experts and consultants.--The co-chairs of the 
Commission may procure the services of experts and consultants 
in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, 
as if the Commission were an agency described in that section, 
at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily 
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level 
IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of such title.
(3) Detailees.--Any Federal Government employee may be 
detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the 
Commission, and such detailee shall retain the rights, status, 
and privileges of his or her regular employment without 
interruption.
(j) Compensation and Travel Expenses.--
(1) Compensation.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph 
(2), each member of the Commission may be compensated 
at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV 
of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 
5, United States Code, for each day during which that 
member is engaged in the actual performance of the 
duties of the Commission under this section.
(B) Exclusion.--Members of the Commission who are 
officers or employees of the United States or Members 
of Congress shall receive no additional pay by reason 
of their service on the Commission.
(2) Travel expenses.--While away from their homes or 
regular places of business in the performance of services for 
the Commission, members of the Commission may be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
same manner as persons employed intermittently in the 
Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of 
title 5, United States Code.
(k) Reports.--
(1) Interim report.--By not later than 7 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue an 
interim report, to be disseminated to the public, including--
(A)(i) the initial estimates of changes in 
employment due to the adoption of artificial 
intelligence for 5 years and 10 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, by 6-digit NAICS code; and
(ii) the Commission's level of confidence in such 
estimates;
(B)(i) Federal revenue estimates for tax years 
beginning 5 and 10 years after the enactment of this 
Act; and
(ii) commentary by the Commission on the likelihood 
that the adoption of artificial intelligence will 
increase or decrease revenue during each time period 
described in clause (i); and
(C) a description of high-quality, free resources 
that the public can access to learn more about 
artificial intelligence and the effects that its wide 
adoption may have on the global economy.
(2) Final report.--
(A) In general.--By not later than 13 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 
prepare and submit a final report regarding the impact 
of the adoption of artificial intelligence that 
includes legislative recommendations on artificial 
intelligence education, reskilling of employees needed 
due to the adoption of artificial intelligence, 
unemployment insurance, and taxation policy, and on 
maintaining global competitiveness in key industries 
including technology and manufacturing.
(B) Submission.--The report required under 
subparagraph (A) shall be submitted to the report to 
each of the applicable congressional committees and to 
the Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Commerce, 
Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of Education.
(C) Assessments of final report.--By not later than 
60 days after the date on which the final report is 
submitted under subparagraph (B), the Secretaries of 
Treasury, Commerce, Labor, and Education shall 
individually submit an assessment of the final report 
to the applicable congressional committees.
(l) Inapplicability of Certain Administrative Provisions.--
(1) Federal advisory committee act.--The provisions of 
chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to 
the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act''), shall not apply to the 
activities of the Commission under this section.
(2) Freedom of information act.--The provisions of section 
552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the 
``Freedom of Information Act''), shall not apply to the 
activities (including proceedings) or records of the Commission 
under this section.
(m) Termination.--
(1) In general.--The Commission, and all the authorities of 
this section, shall terminate on the last day of the 120-day 
period beginning on the date on which the final report 
described in subsection (k)(2) is submitted to the applicable 
congressional committees.
(2) Closing activities.--The Commission may use the 120-day 
period immediately preceding termination for the purposes of 
concluding its activities, including providing testimony to 
Congress concerning the final report described in subsection 
(k)(2) and disseminating the report.
(n) Funding.--There is appropriated, out of any amounts in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $5,250,000 to carry out this 
section, to remain available until the date on which the Commission 
terminates under subsection (m)(1).
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