U.S. Senaator Young, colleagues introduce bipartisan bill to establish national commission on robotics

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the National Commission on Robotics Act, legislation that would create an independent commission to evaluate America’s competitiveness in robotics and recommend policies to strengthen U.S. leadership in robotics.

“Robotics is transforming industries across our economy and will play a critical role in determining which nations lead in innovation and advanced manufacturing,” said Senator Young. “To maintain America's competitive edge, we must better understand the opportunities and challenges ahead and develop a strategy to strengthen our workforce, secure our supply chains, and accelerate domestic innovation. This independent commission will help ensure the United States stays ahead of China and remains the world's leader in robotics technology.”

Specifically, the commission is directed to examine and make recommendations on: 

• The competitiveness of the United States in robotics and the strength of the domestic marketplace.
• If the U.S. has the appropriate means and methods to assert and maintain a technological advantage across industrial, retail, and commercial sectors.
• Foreign actions and policies to advance robotics.
• Ways to foster greater collaboration and strategic partnerships in robotics with industry, the public, and academic institutions could enhance economic competitiveness and manufacturing.
• Workforce incentives and programs to attract and recruit leading talent in robotics and associated STEM fields.
• Supply chain risks and policies to increase domestic manufacturing of robotics. 

Under the bill, the commission would deliver an interim report to Congress and the President within one year of its establishment, and a final report with concrete recommendations within two years of its establishment.  

Click here to see the full text of the bill.