Senate moves to boost federal cybersecurity and AI research

Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Gary Peters (D-Michigan) have introduced the Securing America's Federal Equipment (SAFE) in Supply Chains Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to safeguard federal cybersecurity by mandating that electronic purchases be limited to original manufacturers or authorized resellers, addressing the increased risks of counterfeit products from unverified vendors. In another legislative move, Senators Joe Manchin (I-West Virginia) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are spearheading the Department of Energy AI Act. The bill proposes to bolster the Department of Energy's science and security missions by integrating advanced artificial intelligence technologies. It calls for the establishment of several AI research and development centers across the national labs to foster cutting-edge AI research and secure deployment of AI technologies.