H.R. 9917, AI Safety Regulation with Emergency Authority. Quorum's AI analysis reads it as a trade-off: gains for some, costs for others.
H.R. 9917 · Mixed
What it does
This bill requires large AI companies (those earning at least $500 million annually from AI systems built with over $100 million in computing costs) to maintain technical capabilities to shut down, throttle, or suspend their AI systems on command, and to report serious incidents to the Department of Homeland Security within 15 days. DHS gains authority to order immediate shutdowns if it determines a 'covered incident' has occurred—defined as sabotage, unintended deaths of 10+ people, concealment of capabilities, or loss-of-control scenarios—with companies facing up to $2 million per day in civil penalties for violations, or $20 million per day for failing to comply with shutdown orders.
The analysis did not isolate a single beneficiary class.
The trade-off
DHS gains unilateral emergency shutdown authority with only a 48-hour appeal window and a 5-day reconsideration deadline that is 'deemed denied' if missed—effectively allowing DHS to shut down AI systems first and face judicial review only after 60 days, creating a chilling effect on AI deployment.
The analysis put a high warning level on this bill. Transparency scores 62%, and the analysis found no provisions unrelated to the bill's subject.
Who is behind it
Filed by Ted Lieu. Cosponsored by Nathaniel Moran.