National Commission on Robotics Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7334
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-03: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T20:02:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The National Commission on Robotics Act (H.R. 7334) aims to create an independent advisory body to study advancements in robotics technology. The commission will focus on how robotics affects U.S. interstate and foreign trade, economic strength, and national security, and provide recommendations to Congress and the President to help maintain U.S. leadership in this field.
Key Provisions
- Establishment: The Secretary of Commerce must set up the "Commission on American Leadership in Robotics" within 30 days of the bill's enactment. It is defined as a temporary legislative advisory committee.
- Membership: The commission consists of 18 members, appointed as follows:
- 3 by the Speaker of the House.
- 3 by the House Minority Leader.
- 3 by the Senate Majority Leader.
- 3 by the Senate Minority Leader.
- 6 by the President.
Appointments must occur within 45 days; unmade appointments reduce the total membership. Members must be experts in robotics or its private/public sector applications.
- Leadership: The House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader jointly appoint the Chair; the House and Senate Minority Leaders appoint the Vice Chair.
- Duties and Scope: The commission will review robotics developments, considering:
- U.S. competitiveness in domestic and global markets.
- Strategies to maintain technological edges in industrial, retail, and commercial uses.
- International trends and foreign policies on robotics.
- Ways to boost investments, partnerships with industry, public, and academia.
- Workforce programs to attract talent in robotics and related STEM fields.
- Supply chain risks and policies to increase U.S. manufacturing.
- Other relevant robotics issues.
- Reports: An interim report due one year after establishment, followed by a final report two years after, both submitted to specified congressional committees and the President.
- Support and Operations:
- Full cooperation from federal agencies, including data sharing and personnel details.
- Ability to hire staff, experts, and consultants; accept non-monetary gifts; contract for supplies; and use federal services like mail and space.
- Members treated as federal employees for certain purposes; pay limits for consultants.
- Commission terminates 18 months after the final report.
- Definitions: "Robotics" broadly includes programmable machines for tasks, autonomous mechanisms, industrial manipulators, sensing/acting devices, and unmanned ground vehicles. "Appropriate congressional committees" are the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces entirely new legislation by creating a dedicated federal commission on robotics, which does not appear to amend or reference prior laws directly. It establishes novel advisory mechanisms, such as bipartisan appointments and specific support provisions from the Department of Commerce, without altering existing statutes on technology policy or commissions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires the Department of Commerce and other agencies (e.g., in energy, foreign affairs, education) to provide resources, data, and cooperation, potentially straining administrative budgets but fostering coordinated policy on emerging tech.
- Citizens: Could indirectly benefit workers through recommended STEM incentives and job programs in robotics, enhancing economic opportunities in manufacturing and tech sectors; may influence supply chain policies affecting consumer goods prices and availability.
- International Relations: By addressing global competitiveness and foreign robotics policies, the commission's findings could shape U.S. trade strategies, export controls, or alliances, aiming to counter dependencies on foreign supply chains and maintain technological superiority.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: Congress (via committees and appointments), President (appointments and report recipient), Department of Commerce (establishment and support role), and other agencies providing assistance.
- Private Sector: Robotics industry leaders, manufacturers, and commercial users, who may gain from recommended investments and partnerships.
- Public and Academic Institutions: Universities and research centers involved in STEM education and robotics development, potentially receiving incentives for talent recruitment.
- Workforce: Professionals in robotics, engineering, and related fields, as well as broader U.S. workers impacted by automation trends.
- International Actors: Foreign governments and companies in the global robotics market, affected by U.S. policy recommendations on trade and security.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The commission operates as an advisory body without enforcement powers, ensuring it aligns with separation of powers by providing non-binding recommendations. Provisions for gift acceptance and conflicts of interest emphasize ethics compliance, referencing congressional ethics rules. Broad information access from agencies respects federal disclosure norms but could raise privacy concerns if sensitive data is involved.
- Constitutional: Bipartisan appointment process promotes balanced representation, avoiding executive overreach; temporary nature (about 3.5 years total) limits long-term fiscal impact, consistent with congressional oversight roles.
- Political: Encourages cross-party collaboration through shared appointments and referrals to multiple committees, potentially bridging divides on tech policy. Focus on national security and competitiveness may influence future debates on innovation funding, trade tariffs, or education reforms, without partisan bias in the bill's text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-03: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, 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.
- 2026-02-03: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, 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.
- 2026-02-03: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, 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.
- 2026-02-03: Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, 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.
- 2026-02-03: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- National Commission on Robotics Act — issued 2026-02-03 — PDF (14 pages)