Bipartisan AI safety bill could be presented next week
What's the story
A bipartisan artificial intelligence (AI) safety bill is gaining traction on Capitol Hill. It could be introduced as early as next week. The legislation, spearheaded by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Majority Leader John Thune, is seen as the only viable solution to address potential AI risks before 2027. Klobuchar has told Semafor in a statement that she is working on a bipartisan agreement for "commonsense guardrails to address the risks posed by AI systems."
Legislative collaboration
Cruz confirms collaboration with Klobuchar and Thune on legislation
Senator Cruz has also confirmed his collaboration with Klobuchar and Thune on this crucial legislation.
He announced the partnership on X, saying he is "working with" them "on legislation to address catastrophic risks involving biological or nuclear threats."
The bipartisan effort has already started receiving feedback from AI frontier labs and public advocacy groups, although the draft text remains unreleased publicly.
Twitter Post
"I'm working with Senators Amy Klobuchar and John Thune"
AI is advancing at an extraordinary pace, and some of the risks are dangerous and frightening.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) September 9, 2026
I’ve been on the forefront of this issue in the Senate. I wrote and passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, the only legislation Congress has enacted restricting AI, to protect victims from… pic.twitter.com/movYZNQrHr
Stricter measures
Progressives push for stricter AI regulations
While the bipartisan Senate bill gains support, progressives are calling for a more stringent approach.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) plans to introduce a bill banning superintelligence and pausing AI development. He will also convene experts for a bipartisan briefing next week after recent AI security incidents.
Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has proposed his own five-step plan to "urgently address the potential harms of AI," including certification of new models and creating a new federal agency.
Industry response
OpenAI's stance on national AI safety regulation
OpenAI's Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane has expressed the company's willingness to work with Congress on national AI safety regulation.
He cited "a new chapter in AI capabilities," referring to their own models and research.
Lehane emphasized the need for meaningful action over policy perfection, noting that several "serious" AI frontier safety proposals are circulating in Congress and need immediate attention before it adjourns.