Says he will raise a point of order against any AI regulation moratorium in the Senate reconciliation bill

Watch: Senator Markey’s remarks on Republicans’ effort to ban AI regulation for ten years

Washington (June 3, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today delivered remarks on the Senate floor opposing a provision in the House-passed reconciliation bill that would prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) for the next 10 years. If the 10-year moratorium is included in the Senate reconciliation bill, Senator Markey stated that he would raise a point of order against the provision as a violation of the Senate’s Byrd Rule, which prohibits reconciliation bills from containing any provisions that do not affect the federal budget. Below is an excerpt from Senator Markey’s prepared remarks.

“Make no mistake: we can have an AI revolution while also protecting the civil rights and liberties of everyday Americans. We can support innovation without supercharging the tracking and targeting of young people online. And we can promote competition, while safeguarding our environment. But with their blanket 10-year ban on state AI regulation, Republicans are choosing a sledgehammer over the scalpel. They are choosing Big Tech over kids, families, seniors, and disadvantaged communities across this country. We cannot allow that to happen,” said Senator Markey. “I am committed to fighting this 10-year ban with every tool at my disposal. And that starts by making it clear that this 10-year ban on state AI regulation is a policy change that has no impact on the federal budget. That means it cannot be included in a reconciliation bill. If Senate Republicans keep the House language in their reconciliation bill, I will raise a point of order against it. When my Republican colleagues are ready to have a serious conversation about AI regulation, my door is open. But this backdoor AI moratorium is not serious. It’s not responsible. And it’s not acceptable.”

Senator Markey is the author of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Civil Rights Act, the most comprehensive AI civil rights legislation introduced in Congress. The legislation would put strict guardrails on companies’ use of algorithms for consequential decisions, ensure algorithms are tested before and after deployment, help eliminate and prevent bias, and renew Americans’ faith in the accuracy and fairness of complex algorithms.

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