New Cruz Budget Reconciliation Bill Same as the Old Cruz Budget Reconciliation Bill: Leverages BEAD Funding to Ban State AI Laws for 10 Years

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, criticized new reconciliation bill language released today by Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) which forces states receiving BEAD funding to choose between expanding broadband or protecting consumers from AI harms for ten years. The new language also auctions spectrum critical to national defense. “The newly released language by Chair Cruz continues to hold $42 billion in BEAD funding hostage, forcing states to choose between protecting consumers and expanding critical broadband infrastructure to rural communities,” Sen. Cantwell said. “Forty State Attorneys General oppose the AI moratorium that would leave every American vulnerable to AI-assisted fraud, theft and abuse at a time when we should be strengthening consumer protections. This bill would auction off spectrum essential for military drone operations and risk grounding both civilian and military aircraft due to interference with airplane altimeters. It would jeopardize our weather tracking radar systems and the bands we rely on for WiFi connectivity. And for what? So telecommunications companies—the same ones that failed to protect Americans from Salt Typhoon—can profit and Trump can hawk more of his $47.45 phone plans. This is a fundamental threat to our national defense and a massive giveaway to China."