Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act. We are already seeing companies around the world use AI for customer service, cybersecurity, talent recruitment, and even content production.

While AI can bring significant benefits to companies of all sizes, small companies can't afford to take advantage of these benefits. They don't have the millions of dollars and the teams of consultants. They get left behind despite their immense potential. For the small businesses that form the backbone of our economy, navigating rapidly challenging and changing tools like AI can be overwhelming.

This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish and distribute resources on how small businesses can adopt AI tools and risk management practices. It would build on NIST's Small Business Cybersecurity Corner program to help small businesses by providing voluntary guidance on adopting AI and avoiding potential issues with the technology. This bill will help level the playing field for small companies rolling out AI.

AI should be an opportunity for every American business, not just those with the biggest budgets. As AI rapidly evolves from simple automation to agents that could interact with customers, handle sensitive data, and even make decisions, the stakes for getting it right on privacy and cybersecurity are growing. This bill will ensure that our small businesses have access to the practical resources they need to harness this technology.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Mr. Collins and Ms. Stevens, for their work on this bill. I think we are all in agreement that small businesses should be able to take advantage of the immense potential of AI as well as be able to understand the risks and cybersecurity pitfalls that may come out of it.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3679, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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