Four new bills target AI in defense, China monitoring, lab access

Four bills address AI security and critical infrastructure

Lawmakers introduced four technology-focused bills in early August addressing artificial intelligence applications in defense, oversight of China's AI capabilities, access controls at sensitive research facilities, and cybersecurity for water systems.

The proposals reflect growing congressional attention to both leveraging AI for national security purposes and protecting American technological advantages from foreign adversaries.

Why it matters

These bills signal a legislative push to formalize AI governance across defense and critical infrastructure while tightening controls on foreign access to sensitive research. The measures would establish new reporting requirements, technology mandates, and access restrictions that could reshape how federal agencies approach both AI adoption and counterintelligence.

Military environmental monitoring with AI

The Military Readiness Through Resilient Lands Act, introduced August 6 by Reps. George Whitesides (D-Calif.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), and Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), would modernize the Sikes Act of 1960 to incorporate AI into natural resource management at military installations.

The legislation directs the Department of Defense to assess and deploy AI technologies for developing site-specific conservation goals and metrics. The systems would evaluate natural resources and ecosystem services relevant to mission readiness, climate resilience, and community safety, according to details first reported by Nextgov.

Whitesides cited wildfires at Camp Pendleton earlier this year as an example of natural disasters that can shut down military operations. The bill aims to enable forecasting and prevention of such disruptions through advanced monitoring systems.

Annual reporting on China's AI supply chain

Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) introduced the China AI Power Report Act on August 7, requiring the secretaries of Commerce and State to produce annual assessments of China's AI stack manufacturing sector.

The reports would focus on semiconductor chip production and deployment in China, including processing power, efficiency of AI computing chips, manufacturing costs, and chip design details. The first report would be due 180 days after enactment, followed by annual reports for three years. Congressional committees would receive unclassified versions.

Restricting foreign nationals at national laboratories

Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) introduced the Guarding American Technology from Exploitation (GATE) Act on August 8, which would prohibit foreign nationals from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba from accessing U.S. national laboratory facilities, information, or technology as visitors or long-term assignees.

The Energy Department would retain waiver authority after consulting with agency intelligence officials and FBI counterintelligence personnel when benefits to the United States outweigh security risks. The bill serves as a House companion to legislation Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced in March.

Water infrastructure cybersecurity standards

Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) unveiled legislation August 11 empowering the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct cybersecurity assessments of public water systems and mandate corrective action when significant vulnerabilities are identified.

The EPA would establish tiered cybersecurity standards in consultation with CISA, NIST, and state and local partners. Large drinking water and wastewater systems would be required to evaluate cyber risks as part of existing planning measures. The bill would add $300 million annually to Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds for cybersecurity enhancements.

The proposal follows cyberattacks linked to Iranian hackers that affected more than 30 water utilities in Minnesota in July, according to Nextgov.