HR7334-119

What This Bill Does

The National Commission on Robotics Act requires the Commerce Secretary to establish an independent Commission on American Leadership in Robotics within 30 days. The commission has 18 members: three each from the Speaker, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and six from the President. Members must be recognized experts in robotics or applications of robotics in the private or public sector. The commission must review advances in robotics and policies needed for U.S. leadership in economic competitiveness and national security. It must consider the domestic marketplace, public and private applications, U.S. technological advantage, industrial, retail, and commercial deployment, foreign robotics policies, strategic partnerships with industry, the public, and academic institutions, STEM workforce incentives, supply-chain risks and dependencies, and domestic robotics manufacturing. An interim report is due to Congress and the President within one year, and a final report within two years. Federal agencies must cooperate and provide information. Commerce must provide a liaison, administrative support, staff, facilities, funds, excess federal space, and potentially support from an independent nonprofit institute or a federally funded research and development center. The commission can hire an executive director and staff, procure experts, accept nonmoney gifts, use mail, request agency information, and terminates 18 months after the final report.

Who Benefits and How

Congress and the President benefit from expert recommendations on robotics competitiveness, national security, workforce, supply-chain, and domestic manufacturing policy. Robotics companies, manufacturers, universities, STEM workers, and public-sector users benefit if the commission identifies policies that strengthen U.S. robotics development and adoption. Federal agencies benefit from a structured forum for robotics policy coordination. Independent institutes, FFRDCs, experts, and consultants may benefit from support roles. The public benefits if recommendations improve economic competitiveness and safer, more useful robotics applications.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Commerce Department must establish the commission, supply a liaison, provide administrative services, funds, staff, facilities, and space, and coordinate federal support. Congressional leaders and the President must make appointments quickly or lose appointment slots. Commission members and staff must conduct the review, manage ethics and conflict rules, hire personnel, procure experts, accept in-kind gifts, request agency information, and produce interim and final reports. Federal departments and agencies must provide timely cooperation and information. Federal taxpayers fund commission operations, support services, staff, and expert procurement.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Commission on American Leadership in Robotics within 30 days.
• Requires an 18-member expert commission appointed by congressional leaders and the President.
• Requires review of robotics competitiveness, national security, workforce, supply chains, manufacturing, foreign trends, and public and private applications.
• Requires an interim report after one year and a final report after two years.
• Authorizes Commerce support, agency cooperation, experts, consultants, FFRDC support, excess federal space, and termination 18 months after the final report.