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White House Pushes National AI 'One Rulebook' as Preemption Fight Divides Congress

House leaders praised a package that ties child-safety measures to ratepayer protections, with key Democrats warning they will not accept curbs on state authority.

Overview

  • The administration’s blueprint urges Congress to preempt state AI laws and set uniform standards, warning that a patchwork of rules could hinder U.S. competitiveness.
  • The plan asks lawmakers to codify a ratepayer protection pledge requiring data-center developers to provide or pay for their own power and to streamline federal permitting for AI infrastructure.
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie pledged to work on legislation to implement the White House framework.
  • Democrats including Sen. Richard Blumenthal denounced the proposal as insufficient and said they would block it in the Senate, underscoring deep divisions over state authority.
  • The blueprint leaves room for states to enforce general consumer and child-protection laws and for local governments to decide data-center siting, even as multiple data-center bills in both chambers have yet to gain traction.