S. 4686

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4686 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4686

To establish a commission on robotics, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 4, 2026

Mr. McCormick (for himself, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Young, and Mr. 
Heinrich) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish a commission on robotics, 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 ``National Commission on Robotics 
Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON ROBOTICS.

(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an 
independent commission to be known as the ``Commission on 
American Leadership in Robotics'' (in this section referred to 
as the ``Commission'').
(2) Purpose.--The Commission shall--
(A) examine robotics as it pertains to interstate 
and foreign commerce, economic competitiveness, and 
national security; and
(B) make recommendations relating thereto to the 
appropriate congressional committees.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Number and appointment.--The Commission shall be 
composed of 18 members appointed as follows:
(A) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives.
(B) Three members appointed by the Minority Leader 
of the House of Representatives.
(C) Three members appointed by the Majority Leader 
of the Senate.
(D) Three members appointed by the Minority Leader 
of the Senate.
(E) Six members appointed by the President of the 
United States.
(2) Deadline for appointment.--Members shall be appointed 
to the Commission by not later than 45 days after the date on 
which the Commission is established under subsection (a).
(3) Effect of lack of appointment by appointment date.--If 
one or more appointments under paragraph (1) are not made by 
the appointment date specified in paragraph (2), the authority 
to make such appointment or appointments shall expire, and the 
number of members of the Commission shall be reduced to the 
number of appointments made to the Commission as of that date.
(4) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be 
individuals who are recognized experts and have appropriate 
professional experience in matters relating to any of the 
following:
(A) Robotics.
(B) Applications, or potential applications, of 
robotics by the private sector or public sector.
(C) Impacts of robotics on economic 
competitiveness, including economics, international 
trade, or supply chain analysis.
(c) Chair and Vice Chair.--
(1) Chair.--The Majority Leader of the Senate and the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly designate 
one member of the Commission to serve as Chair of the 
Commission.
(2) Vice chair.--The Minority Leader of the Senate and the 
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall jointly 
designate one member of the Commission to serve as Vice Chair 
of the Commission.
(d) Period of Appointment and Vacancies.--
(1) Period of appointment.--Members shall be appointed for 
the life of the Commission.
(2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall not 
affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment was made.
(e) Scope and Duties.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall carry out a review of 
advances in robotics.
(2) Considerations.--In carrying out the review under 
paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider the methods, 
means, and policies necessary to advance the development of 
robotics by the United States to comprehensively address the 
economic competitiveness and national security needs of the 
United States.
(3) Scope of the review.--In conducting the review under 
paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider the following:
(A) The competitiveness of the United States in 
robotics, including matters related to the domestic 
marketplace for robotics and private sector and public 
sector applications of robotics in the United States.
(B) Means and methods for the United States to 
assert and maintain a technological advantage in 
robotics, specifically in the deployment of robotics in 
industrial, retail, and commercial sectors in the 
United States.
(C) International developments and trends, 
including foreign actions and policies to advance 
robotics.
(D) Means by which to foster greater emphasis and 
investments in robotics to stimulate strategic 
partnerships in robotics with industry, the public, and 
academic institutions, to the extent that such efforts 
have material application related to economic 
competitiveness and manufacturing.
(E) Workforce incentives and programs to attract 
and recruit leading talent in robotics, including in 
associated science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics fields, to the extent that such efforts 
relate to economic competitiveness in robotics.
(F) The global and domestic supply chain for 
robotics, including any supply chain risks or 
dependencies, and policies to increase the 
manufacturing of robotics in the United States.
(G) Any other matters the Commission determines 
appropriate related to robotics.
(f) Commission Report and Recommendations.--
(1) Interim report.--Not later than one year after the date 
on which the Commission is established under subsection (a), 
the Commission shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees and the President an interim report on the status of 
the review by the Commission under subsection (e), including a 
discussion of any interim recommendations.
(2) Final report.--Not later than two years after the date 
on which the Commission is established under subsection (a), 
the Commission shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees and the President a final report on the findings of 
the Commission and such recommendations as the Commission may 
have for action by Congress and the Federal Government.
(g) Government Cooperation.--
(1) Cooperation.--In carrying out its duties under this 
section, the Commission shall receive the full and timely 
cooperation of the Secretary and the heads of other relevant 
Federal departments and agencies in providing the Commission 
with analysis, briefings, and other information necessary for 
the fulfillment of such duties.
(2) Liaison.--The Secretary shall designate at least one 
officer or employee of the Department to serve as a liaison 
officer between the Secretary and the Commission.
(3) Detailees authorized.--The Secretary and the heads of 
other relevant Federal departments and agencies may provide, 
and the Commission may accept and employ, personnel detailed 
from the Department and such other Federal departments and 
agencies, as the case may be, without reimbursement.
(4) Facilitation of certain services.--
(A) Independent, nongovernmental institute.--Not 
later than 45 days after the date on which the 
Commission is established under subsection (a), the 
Secretary may make available to the Commission the 
services of an independent, nongovernmental institute 
described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, and exempt from tax under section 501(a) 
of such Code, that has recognized credentials and 
expertise in economic competitiveness and technology in 
order to facilitate the discharge of the duties of the 
Commission under this section.
(B) Federally funded research and development 
center.--On request of the Commission, the Secretary 
shall make available to the Commission the services of 
a federally funded research and development center that 
is covered by a sponsoring agreement of the Department 
in order to enhance the efforts of the Commission to 
discharge its duties under this section.
(5) Other services.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary may provide to the 
Commission, on a nonreimbursable basis, such 
administrative services, funds, staff, facilities, and 
other support services as are necessary for the 
discharge of the duties of the Commission under this 
section.
(B) Other agencies.--In addition to any support 
provided under subparagraph (A), the heads of other 
relevant Federal departments and agencies may provide 
to the Commission such services, funds, facilities, 
staff, and other support as such heads determine 
advisable and as may be authorized by law.
(h) Staff.--
(1) Status as federal employees.--Notwithstanding the 
requirements of section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, 
including the required supervision under subsection (a)(3) of 
such section, a member of the Commission shall be considered to 
be a Federal employee.
(2) Executive director.--The Commission shall appoint and 
fix the rate of basic pay for an Executive Director in 
accordance with section 3161(d) of title 5, United States Code.
(3) Pay.--The Executive Director, with the approval of the 
Commission, may appoint and fix the rate of basic pay for 
additional personnel as staff of the Commission in accordance 
with section 3161(d) of title 5, United States Code.
(i) Personal Services.--
(1) Authority to procure.--The Commission may--
(A) procure the services of experts or consultants 
(or of organizations of experts or consultants) in 
accordance with the provisions of section 3109 of title 
5, United States Code; and
(B) pay in connection with such services travel 
expenses of individuals, including transportation and 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, while such individuals 
are traveling from their homes or places of business to 
duty stations.
(2) Maximum daily pay rates.--The daily rate paid an expert 
or consultant procured pursuant to paragraph (1) may not exceed 
the daily rate paid a person occupying a position at level IV 
of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
States Code.
(j) Authority To Accept Gifts.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services, goods, and property 
from non-Federal entities for the purposes of aiding and 
facilitating the work of the Commission.
(2) Exclusion of money.--The authority under paragraph (1) 
does not extend to gifts of money.
(3) Documentation and conflicts.--Gifts accepted under the 
authority under paragraph (1) shall be documented, and 
conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of 
interest shall be avoided.
(4) Application of rules.--Subject to the authority in this 
section, members of the Commission shall otherwise comply with 
rules set forth by the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate 
and the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives 
governing employees of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives, respectively.
(k) Legislative Advisory Committee.--The Commission shall operate 
as a legislative advisory committee.
(l) Contracting Authority.--The Commission may acquire such 
administrative supplies and equipment as necessary for Commission use 
to the extent funds are available.
(m) Use of Federal Government Information.--The Commission may 
secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information 
as the Commission considers necessary to discharge its duties. Upon 
such request of the Chair of the Commission, the head of such Federal 
department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
(n) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States mail 
in the same manner and under the same conditions as Federal departments 
and agencies.
(o) Space for Use of Commission.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which the Commission is established under subsection (a), the 
Administrator of General Services, in consultation with the 
Commission, shall identify and make available suitable excess 
space within the Federal space inventory to house the 
operations of the Commission.
(2) Lease.--If the Administrator is not able to make 
suitable excess space available within the 30-day period under 
paragraph (1), the Commission may lease space to the extent 
funds are available.
(p) Removal of Members.--
(1) In general.--A member may be removed from the 
Commission for cause by the individual serving in the position 
responsible for the original appointment of such member under 
subsection (b)(1), if notice has first been provided to such 
member of the cause for such removal and such removal is voted 
and agreed upon by \3/4\ of the members serving.
(2) Vacancy.--A vacancy created by removal under paragraph 
(1) shall not affect the powers of the Commission, and shall be 
filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made.
(q) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate 18 months after 
the date on which the Commission submits the final report required 
under subsection (f)(2).
(r) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives.
(2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
Department of Commerce.
(3) Robotics.--The term ``robotics'' includes each of the 
following:
(A) Programmable multifunctional mechanical devices 
designed to move material, parts, tools, or specialized 
devices through variable programmed motions to perform 
a variety of tasks.
(B) Programmed actuated mechanisms with a degree of 
autonomy to perform locomotion, manipulation, or 
positioning.
(C) Automatically controlled, reprogrammable, 
multipurpose manipulators, programmable in three or 
more axes, which can be either fixed in place or fixed 
to a mobile platform for use in automation applications 
in an industrial environment.
(D) Machines that--
(i) can sense their environment;
(ii) have the capacity to process the 
information they sense; and
(iii) are organized to act directly upon 
their environment.
(E) Mechanical devices that are capable of 
locomotion, navigation, or movement on the ground, and 
operate at a distance from one or more operators or 
supervisors based on commands or in response to sensor 
data, or through any combination thereof, and that may 
also be referred to as ``unmanned ground vehicle 
systems''.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Commerce.
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