Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton (Ariz.) called on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to extend the House legislative calendar to address artificial intelligence safety risks, arguing that lawmakers should not adjourn for the midterm election season without taking action on emerging AI threats. Stanton’s request follows a warning issued earlier this week by a former Anthropic researcher regarding the potential dangers of rapidly advancing AI models.
House GOP leaders recently shortened the legislative schedule, with lawmakers scheduled to leave Washington, D.C., this Thursday for a four-week campaign recess in October. The original plan included sessions in late September, which were canceled by leadership. Stanton contends that the rapid pace of AI development requires immediate congressional attention to protect critical U.S. infrastructure.
What the Left Is Saying
Rep. Greg Stanton stated on NewsNation’s "The Hill Sunday" that Congress must address AI risks before adjourning. "We should take the warnings of the leading investigators of AI very, very seriously," Stanton said. He argued that "safety and innovation are not the opposite of each other" and that lawmakers have a duty to ensure both can proceed simultaneously. "That’s why we’re demanding Mike Johnson not send Congress home after this week until after the election," he added.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) echoed the call for urgency on ABC’s "This Week," stating that the House should "act urgently" on AI regulation. Jeffries acknowledged that Republicans "unfortunately" canceled the final two weeks of the session originally scheduled for later this month. "We should take decisive action now so that we can slow down … the pace of development in order to protect the American people and ensure that AI is proceeding safely," Jeffries said.
What the Right Is Saying
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) expressed support for "meaningful regulation" of AI but cautioned against measures that might "smother American innovation." Speaking on NBC’s "Meet the Press," Johnson addressed the request to keep lawmakers in Washington. He stated that he would call a vote on Monday "if we had the solution" to the identified risks. "We have to make sure we’re doing it the right way. I think the first step is to have a meeting of all the platform providers," Johnson said. He noted that he has discussed the possibility of such a gathering with President Trump.
What the Numbers Show
The House legislative calendar was originally set to include sessions during the weeks of Sept. 21 and Sept. 28. House GOP leaders cut the calendar short, scheduling the departure of lawmakers for Thursday following a four-day session that succeeded a 10-day break for Labor Day and Rosh Hashanah. Both House and Senate lawmakers are scheduled to be out of session for four weeks in October to campaign ahead of the midterm elections. The debate centers on the timing of legislative action relative to the adjournment date and the specific regulatory framework for AI.
The Bottom Line
The disagreement highlights a procedural and substantive divide over how quickly Congress should respond to AI developments. Democrats argue that the current adjournment schedule leaves a regulatory vacuum during a period of rapid technological advancement, particularly concerning critical infrastructure. Republicans maintain that regulation must be carefully considered to avoid stifling innovation, suggesting a meeting with platform providers as a preliminary step. The outcome depends on whether Speaker Johnson will reverse the adjournment decision or if the issue will be deferred until lawmakers return after the midterms.