Committee backs bill directing NIST to help small businesses adopt AI tools
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Summary
The House Science Committee reported HR 3679, the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act, after adopting an amendment to include NIST privacy and cybersecurity guidance in materials for small businesses. Sponsors said the bill will create voluntary, accessible resources for Main Street businesses.
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee on Thursday advanced HR 3679, the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act, directing NIST to develop voluntary resources to help small businesses understand and adopt artificial intelligence technologies.
Representative Collins, who introduced the bill, said small businesses account for 43.5% of U.S. GDP and employ 45.9% of the workforce, and argued the measure would help ensure “Main Street, not just Silicon Valley, can benefit from the AI revolution.”
Representative Stevens, a co-sponsor, added the bill will help small firms manage AI-related risks while reaping efficiency gains. Representative Foster offered an amendment to require that NIST include existing privacy and cybersecurity frameworks in the guidance; the committee adopted that amendment. Foster said small businesses often prioritize getting a system to work before addressing privacy and security, and pointing them to NIST frameworks will “make a better product” and reduce common pitfalls.
Representative Foushee introduced and then withdrew a broader amendment that would have tied access to resources to litigation over so-called sanctuary jurisdictions; she withdrew the amendment and said she would support the bill when it comes to a committee vote.
Chairman Babin moved that the committee report HR 3679, as amended, to the House with a favorable recommendation. A recorded vote was requested during markup; the measure was later reported favorably (35 ayes, 0 nays).
The bill directs NIST to create practical guidance, case studies and best practices aimed at small businesses; specific funding amounts and implementation timetables were not provided during the markup. Staff were authorized to make technical and conforming edits before transmission to the House.