Leadership Conference Urges Senators to Vote “YES” on Cantwell-Blackburn Amendment 2814

View a PDF of the letter here.

Dear Senator,

On behalf of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 national organizations to promote and protect civil and human rights in the United States, and our Center for Civil Rights and Technology we urge the Senate to support Amendment 2814, offered by Senators Cantwell, Blackburn, Collins and Markey, and strike the ten-year Artificial Intelligence (AI) Moratorium from H.R. 1. The Leadership Conference will score the Senate’s vote on Amendment 2814 in addition to scoring the vote on the full legislation. Leaving the AI Moratorium in the reconciliation legislation will force all states receiving Broadband, Equity and Deployment (BEAD) funds to surrender their authority to regulate AI and automated decision-making systems in order to protect their residents for 10 years—or be forced to lose billions in broadband funding that would connect people to quality, affordable broadband internet. If it goes into effect the AI moratorium provision is nothing more than “The Big Tech Protection Act,” at the expense of your constituents.

We strongly urge Congress to protect the progress states have made in safeguarding their residents against faulty AI. For this reason, we ask you to vote yes on Amendment 2814. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jonathan Walter, senior policy counsel, technology, at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Alejandra Montoya-Boyer
Senior Director, Center for Civil Rights and Technology