Two senators are considering introducing legislation that would establish the United States as a leader in developing global standards for critical and emerging technologies, with a focus on maintaining global competitiveness.
The Advancing American Leadership in Standards Act of 2024, introduced by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), would help the U.S. achieve international consensus in key areas. The aim is to ensure that the government takes the lead in the development of rules and regulations. It also includes emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing.
The bill names China as the United States’ primary rival in developing these standards. He has two sides to this threat. Whichever country takes the lead in developing standards for an emerging technological system will not only broadly determine its application and usage, but will also ensure market power for individual companies in that country.
“In recent years, the Chinese Communist Party has asserted its dominance in the world’s technology sector, and as the Chinese Communist Party’s status increases, our authority and influence decline,” Warner said in a press release. . “This legislation clearly outlines the steps we must take to reestablish our leadership and ensure we do everything in our power to establish global standards for critical and emerging technologies. .”
This bill would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to submit a report to Congress summarizing current U.S. participation in international standards development and provide a user-friendly report to help stakeholders navigate this landscape. It is tasked with creating a web portal and establishing a pilot program with a $10 million reward. Grants to US-based standards councils.
Within three years of a grant program, NIST is required to produce another report documenting the program’s expenditures and effectiveness.
“In response to concerns about declining U.S. leadership in international standard-setting activities, this bill aims to improve the visibility of standard-setting related to emerging technologies and increase U.S. participation in these important activities. “There are,” the bill summary states.
The entire federal government, and NIST in particular, have already been working for several years to increase U.S. leadership in standard setting, especially in response to China’s growing influence in emerging technology areas. But President Joe Biden’s sweeping executive orders on AI have tasked NIST with an increased workload focused on AI and other emerging technologies.