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Congress has spent years holding hearings about artificial intelligence. Rep. Don Beyer wants a committee that can actually demand answers.
The Virginia Democrat is seeking to create a House Select Committee on AI equipped with both subpoena and legislative powers. If it happens, AI companies would face a panel that can compel documents and testimony instead of politely requesting them.
What Beyer is proposing
The idea first circulated among House Democrats in September 2026. At the time, planning for a dedicated AI select committee hinged on the party winning the House majority.
The push now coincides with Democrats taking majority control of the chamber after the midterm elections.
The headline feature is subpoena authority covering both documents and testimony.
Beyer has framed the effort as bipartisan, with members from various parties signaling participation.
The panel would also not take over the turf of existing House committees. Instead, it is designed to support and strengthen their oversight on AI safety and national security issues.
The safety framework behind the committee
The committee is only one piece of the plan. Beyer is working alongside Rep. Sara Jacobs, a California Democrat, on a draft AI safety framework.
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The pair aims to deliver that draft by the end of 2026. They are targeting implementation as early as the first quarter of 2027.
As of November 6, 2026, Beyer expressed optimism that AI safety legislation could be ready for floor discussion by Q1 2027.
The agenda covers four main areas:
- Minimum safety standards for AI laboratories
- Protocols for government intervention during emergencies
- Clarifications on liability
- Resource allocations for agencies affected by the new rules
Beyer’s track record on AI
Beyer is not new to this issue. He has introduced the AI Foundation Model Transparency Act, which focuses on disclosure around large AI models.
In June 2026, he backed a bipartisan bill proposing voluntary federal reporting of flaws in AI models.
On September 17, 2026, Beyer co-led a bipartisan letter urging immediate AI safety measures. The stated goal was to get ahead of potential crises rather than react after one hits.
He has also pursued academic study in machine learning.
What this means for AI companies and Congress
A select committee would centralize attention without stripping existing panels of authority.
Minimum safety standards for AI labs would also mark a clear break from the voluntary approach. Beyer’s own June 2026 bill relied on voluntary reporting of model flaws. A mandatory floor would be a meaningful escalation.
There are real hurdles. Creating a select committee requires House approval, and its scope, membership, and powers will be negotiated.
The timeline is aggressive too. A draft framework by the end of 2026 and possible floor action in Q1 2027 leaves little room for the usual legislative detours.
