Robotics laws was proposed on Capitol Hill this week. Credit score: Sheik, by way of Adobe Inventory
Robotics has not been a prime legislative precedence in Washington, D.C., however that might be altering. Two payments launched in Congress this week deal with other ways of selling U.S. competitiveness in robotics.
The Nationwide Fee on Robotics Act (H.R. 7334) proposes to ascertain a nationwide fee to judge U.S. competitiveness in robotics and supply coverage suggestions. Representatives Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), and Bob Latta (R-OH), who’re members of the not too long ago revived Congressional Robotics Caucus, launched the invoice.
The Humanoid Robotics Oversight and Blocking of Obtainment from Totalitarians Act of 2025 or “Humanoid ROBOT Act of 2025” (S. 3275) would prohibit the federal authorities from buying humanoid robots with built-in synthetic intelligence from international entities, together with army suppliers to China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. Senators Invoice Cassidy (R-LA) and Chris Coons (D-DE) launched the invoice.
Specialists would make competitiveness suggestions
Underneath H.R. 7334, the U.S. Division of Commerce would set up an unbiased fee composed for 18 acknowledged robotics specialists. They might be appointed and permitted by members of each events and the president, and the fee would submit an interim report inside one yr and a remaining report together with actionable suggestions for Congress and the administration in two years.
“As robotics continue to reshape our economy, manufacturing base, and national security, it is essential that the United States remain the global leader in robotics innovation,” acknowledged Rep. Obernolte. “This legislation brings together experts from industry, academia, and the public sector to help Congress develop smart, forward-looking policies that strengthen our workforce, secure our supply chains, and keep America competitive.”
The fee would study home and worldwide developments in robotics, workforce and expertise challenges, provide chain dangers, manufacturing competitiveness, and the position of robotics in financial development and nationwide safety. The Congressional Robotics Caucus and others have advocated for a extra unified federal method to the robotics business.
“As our global community adapts to a constantly growing and evolving digital world, robotics will become more critically important to meet the demands of the 21st century,” Rep. McClellan mentioned. “The National Commission on Robotics Act helps ensure that the U.S. remains competitive on the global stage and a leader in technological development and innovation. Only by better understanding the economic impacts of robotics can we continue to work on the cutting edge of research that drastically improves and enriches people’s lives.”
“The United States must lead when it comes to robotics and autonomous systems,” mentioned Rep. Latta. “Creating a commission to evaluate how robotics pertain to commerce, economic competitiveness, and national security will allow the U.S. to continue making important advancements in robotics. Further, evaluating how robotics can enhance workforce opportunities will spur future programs to attract and recruit leading talent in the field.”
The Fee would submit an interim report inside one yr of its institution and a remaining report inside two years, providing actionable suggestions to Congress, the Administration, and related federal businesses.
Rep. Latta addressed a gathering with the Congressional Robotics Caucus in December 2025. Credit score: Eugene Demaitre
Business leaders welcome proposed laws
“This is a major development towards strengthening U.S. leadership in robotics and automation,” Jeff Burnstein, president of the Affiliation for Advancing Automation (A3), posted on LinkedIn. A3 has been a serious proponent of a nationwide robotics technique.
The Nationwide Fee on Robotics Act is the primary piece of federal laws in assist of the robotics business within the U.S., asserted Brendan Schulman, vp of coverage and authorities relations at Boston Dynamics.
“The proposed establishment of a national commission is especially timely, as AI dramatically accelerates the capabilities of robots, and as foreign competition intensifies,” he added. “Robots will not only transform core industries, help reshore critical manufacturing, and elevate job safety and efficiency — they will also redefine America’s economic and industrial future.”
“Robotics and automation are not optional tools—they are foundational infrastructure,” wrote Robert Little, chief of robotics technique at Novanta. “Without them, reshoring at scale is not feasible. Manufacturing competitiveness, supply-chain security, and economic resilience all depend on advanced automation.”
Boston Dynamics’ Brendan Schulman demonstrated the Spot quadruped on the December Congressional Robotics Caucus assembly. Credit score: Eugene Demaitre
AUVSI launches Partnership for Robotics Competitiveness
“The age of autonomy and advanced robotics is here, and dominance in this industry will determine who leads the next industrial revolution,” mentioned Michael Robbins, president and CEO of the Affiliation for Uncrewed Car Programs Worldwide (AUVSI).
Members of Congress together with Obernolte and McLellan additionally met with business executives organized by AUVSI to launch the Partnership for Robotics Competitiveness (PfRC). The partnership’s purpose is to create insurance policies and goal investments to “reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, scale domestic manufacturing, and create high-quality jobs in communities across the country,” mentioned the AUVSI. It launched a whitepaper of suggestions for treating robots as essential to U.S. army and financial management.
“If we want to stay competitive on the global stage, we need a coordinated National Robotics Strategy that aligns innovation, workforce development, and federal policy,” mentioned Jeff Cardenas, CEO of Apptronik. “Apptronik is proud to support AUVSI in bringing together industry and government leaders to advance a vision that keeps the United States at the forefront of transformative technology.”
Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic, acknowledged: “The strategic significance of bodily AI for the approaching a long time can’t be overstated. How we advance fashionable manufacturing by clever robotics, and create extra versatile and adaptive techniques, can have a direct impression on financial development and society at giant.
Humanoids elevate nationwide safety issues
“Americans win when we lead in technology,” mentioned Dr. Cassidy. “We’re keeping that lead by blocking countries like China from putting their robots in our workplaces and homes.”
The senator famous that humanoid robots might be “increasingly integral for industrial, household, and defense applications.” Whereas U.S. funding and analysis leads the world, many firms abroad are additionally engaged on creating humanoids, usually with authorities assist, Cassidy mentioned.
Simply this week, Shenzhen, China-based LimX Dynamics Inc. raised $200 million in Sequence B funding, the most recent multimillion-dollar funding in an organization creating humanoids and AI. Many U.S. laboratories use Chinese language {hardware}, equivalent to Unitree legged robots, and U.S. producers equivalent to Tesla presently depend on Chinese language parts for his or her humanoids.
