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Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Updates


House Energy and Commerce, Education and Workforce, and Judiciary Committees Introduce Bipartisan Joint NIL Legislation to Establish National Framework

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, as part of a bipartisan joint committee process to stabilize the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) marketplace, leadership from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Committee on Education and Workforce, and Committee on the Judiciary introduced the SCORE Act and issued the following statements. “NIL offers an endless array of opportunities for student-athletes to make the most of their college experience, but the lack of clear guardrails has left athletes and universities on unstable ground. The SCORE Act creates a national framework that supports student-athletes and recenters the educational mission of college athletics,” said Chairmen Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Tim Walberg (MI-05), and Jim Jordan (OH-04). “We are proud of this landmark legislation, and we look forward to working with our colleagues to strengthen this American institution.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade: “College athletics are a vital part of American culture, and it's clear—from both student-athletes and universities—that a national framework is long overdue. The Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act delivers the stability, clarity, and transparency that stakeholders have been calling for,” said Congressman Bilirakis . “I’m proud of the work our Subcommittee has done on this important issue, and I look forward to advancing a measure that establishes clear guardrails—ones that empower student-athletes while upholding the core educational mission of our colleges and universities.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05): “As the mom of a D1 athlete, I've seen firsthand how important – and how long overdue – it was to allow our student athletes to earn their fair share,” said Congresswoman Bynum. “The NIL marketplace in college sports is currently operating like the Wild Wild West. This legislation takes important steps towards adding guardrails that guarantee that all student athletes can earn fair compensation, access a complete and quality education, and develop the skills they need to succeed in life after sports. I look forward to continuing to work on this bipartisan bill and delivering both strong protections and good opportunities to student athletes.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congressman Shomari C. Figures (AL-02): “The current college sports environment has drastically changed in the NIL era and this bill provides a framework to where students can not only be compensated but also have access to resources like health care and financial literacy courses, to ensure they have a solid foundation for their lives after college and we can get back to just playing ball,”   said Congressman Figures .  “I look forward to continuing the bipartisan work to make this the strongest bill possible and protect student athletes, schools, and our athletic conferences.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congresswoman Lisa McClain (MI-09), Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference: “College athletes in Michigan and across the country deserve the chance to benefit from the value they help create,”   said   Chairwoman McClain . “Throughout my work on NIL reform, I have pushed for fairness, transparency, and preserving the student-athlete model. I’m proud the SCORE Act includes key principles I have championed, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to move this important legislation forward.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust: “Student athletes are the embodiment of the American Dream. But that dream is at a crossroads due to the uncertainty facing college athletics,”   said Congressman Fitzgerald .  “The SCORE Act provides the necessary framework to recapture the principles and spirit of collegiate sport, while ensuring our student athletes can be fairly compensated and adequately protected for years to come. I’m grateful to the University of Wisconsin and all who participated in our Judiciary Committee roundtable, which helped expand our understanding of the current landscape around antitrust liability for the NCAA and informed the development of this legislation.” Following Quote is Attributable to Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “The SCORE Act is a significant step forward for name, image, and likeness (NIL) in college sports. A lack of clear rules and the inability to enforce them have turned the NIL landscape into the Wild West. This bill will finally bring order to the chaos—protecting universities and conferences from a flood of litigation, safeguarding Olympic and women’s sports teams, and creating a fair, national framework that allows student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness,” said Congressman Fry . “As a member of both the House Energy and Commerce and House Judiciary Committees, I’m proud of the work we have done in an effort to strike the right balance between supporting student-athletes ad preserving the integrity of college sports.” Background: Without clear federal standards, college athletic programs and athletes face a chaotic patchwork of state laws, legal uncertainty, and growing threats to traditional sports programs. The SCORE Act restores order by: · Reaffirming the student-first model; · Defending Olympic sports; · Shielding athletes from being exploited by bad actors; · Establishing clear regulatory authority and enforcement mechanisms; and · Improving transparency and accountability to better protect athletes and universities. The SCORE Act’s original co-sponsors: · Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) – Lead Republican · Rep. Janelle Bynum (OR-05) – Democrat Co-Lead · Rep. Shomari C. Figures (AL-02) – Democrat Co-Lead · Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY-02) · Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-05) · Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04) · Rep. Lisa McClain (MI-09) · Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) · Rep. Russell Fry (SC-07) Click   HERE   to read the bill text. Click   HERE  to read the story. Click  HERE  to view the SCORE Act fact sheet. ###



Subcommittee on CMT Holds Hearing on The State of NHTSA and Motor Vehicle Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a hearing titled Looking Under the Hood: The State of NHTSA and Motor Vehicle Safety. “Today’s hearing marks the beginning of a bipartisan, member-driven, and stakeholder-informed process to develop a motor vehicle safety title as part of Congress’s broader efforts to reauthorize our surface transportation programs. [...] NHTSA plays a central role in addressing this pressing issue through its education campaigns, regulatory work, and enforcement efforts. Congress must ensure that the agency is equipped needed to fulfill its mission and save lives.” said Vice Chairman Fulcher Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05): “I ride just about every year with the Ohio Highway Patrol. And when the troopers are out on the road, they can point out quickly people are not paying attention… it's so important when we go look at this is it's always been safety first, safety last, safety always… AVs that need to be as safe or safer than any vehicle on the road today you know it’s notable that an AV is never tired, it's never distracted, it's never impaired.” Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23): “With respect to artificial intelligence in general, I chaired the House AI task force, and we included in our task force report an entire chapter on the issue of preemption because this balance of regulation is so important [Congress is considering] a temporary moratorium on state regulation of AI. And we think that that's necessary to avoid 50 different state regulators going in 50 different directions on something that's clearly interstate commerce and very similar to AV. We think that ultimately regulation of AI will require a partnership between federal and state regulation.” Congresswoman Tom Kean (NJ-07): “As Congress works to ensure that our roadways are safe, I am grateful for the opportunity to hear from experts in the automobile industry on innovation and the impacts that NHTSA is having on safety on New Jersey's roads and across the United States.” ###



Chairmen Guthrie, Bilirakis, and Hudson Issue Statement on Extension of TikTok’s Divestiture Deadline

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, issued the following statement after President Trump delayed enforcement of the TikTok divestiture requirement: “We remain committed to seeing TikTok divested from the Chinese Communist Party-affiliated ByteDance. Our enemies will use any tool at their disposal to surveil and potentially manipulate the American people,”   said Chairmen Guthrie, Bilirakis, and Hudson.   “We remain committed to protecting the privacy and security of the American public and are hopeful the Administration will continue working to facilitate a deal that brings TikTok into compliance with the law soon.” ###



Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis Announce Hearing on NHTSA and Motor Vehicle Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, announced a hearing titled Looking Under the Hood: The State of NHTSA and Motor Vehicle Safety . “The American auto industry has been, and continues to be, one of the premier industries in our country, creating jobs and affordable transportation options for families. Still, nearly 40,000 Americans die annually in motor vehicle crashes,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis. “As Congress looks ahead to reauthorizing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), we must evaluate how the agency can bolster vehicle safety, promote vehicle choice, and support innovation, ensuring the U.S. auto industry continues to be the gold standard.” Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing titled Looking Under the Hood: The State of NHTSA and Motor Vehicle Safety WHAT: Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing on NHTSA and Motor Vehicle Safety DATE: Thursday, June 26, 2025 TIME: 10:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chairmen. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Alex Khlopin with the Committee staff at Alex.Khlopin@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov . ###



CMT Subcommittee Holds Legislative Hearing on SCORE Act to Standardize NIL in College Athletics

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a hearing titled Winning Off the Field: Legislative Proposal to Stabilize NIL and College Athletics. “College athletics are a vital part of American culture, and it's clear—from both student-athletes and universities—that a national framework is long overdue. The Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act delivers the stability, clarity, and transparency that stakeholders have been calling for,” said Chairman Bilirakis . “I’m proud of the work our Subcommittee has done on this important issue, and I look forward to advancing a measure that establishes clear guardrails—ones that empower student-athletes while upholding the core educational mission of our colleges and universities. ” Watch the full hearing here . Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01): “Do you think these revenue sharing agreements will bring stability to college athletic rosters?” Ms. Montgomery: “I do think that it will bring a level of stability. [...] It's able to bring in some of those collective actions—some of those opportunities that we've seen previously—in house to make sure there is no nefarious activity going on.” Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08): “In this conversation, some folks have proposed the creation of a federal self-regulatory organization, or some other sort of independent body to oversee college sports, including NIL. So just curious, in your view, do you think this is necessary or unnecessary? What mechanisms are already in place, and how do we ensure fair play and athlete protection without creating a new layer of bureaucracy?” Mr. King : “I do not think that we need federally created commission. You've heard talk about the College Sports Commission, which arises out of the House settlement. Now that it's approved, it is actually in existence and up and running, and the way it is structured is it would, it will handle the regulation.” Congresswoman Russell Fry (SC-07): “The NCAA and conferences have the ability to govern college athletes, but it's been diminished. You can’t create rules. You can’t enforce the rules that you create. [...] Can you explain the SEC’s ability to regulate and govern its member institutions, particularly on matters related to NIL?” Mr. King: “In order to have national competitions, you need to have uniform standards nationally.”



Chairman Bilirakis Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Hearing on Standardizing NIL in College Athletics

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled  Winning Off the Field: Legislative Proposal to Stabilize NIL and College Athletics. Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis' opening statement as prepared for delivery: “Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our legislative hearing on Name, Image, and Likeness in college athletics.  “I want to thank our witnesses for being here today. Your experience and insight are critical as we navigate what is arguably one of the most transformative moments in the history of college sports.  “In recent years, we’ve seen a dramatic shift in how college athletes engage with their sports, their schools, and their personal brands. The recent House v. NCAA settlement represents more than just a court decision — it marks a fundamental change in how college athletics will operate going forward. The timing couldn’t be more appropriate for legislative action. “That’s why I am leading the SCORE Act — the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act — a comprehensive, commonsense discussion draft that reflects months of dialogue with student-athletes, athletic directors, conference leaders, and the NCAA.  “This is not just another proposal; it's a targeted solution designed to bring predictability, fairness, and long-term balance to a system that has rapidly evolved without structure. “The SCORE Act is built around three core principles:  Clarity: by establishing a national standard that replaces the current patchwork of state laws Stability: by setting reasonable guardrails around the transfer portal and NIL deals to protect both athletes and programs, and Support: by ensuring benefits like scholarship protections and financial literacy programs are not optional but expected. “For too long, student-athletes have operated in a gray area, empowered in some ways but exposed in others. The current model lacks the transparency and consistency that both athletes and institutions need. The SCORE Act brings that balance. “And while today’s hearing is just the beginning of a broader tri-committee process, with the Committees on Judiciary and Education & Workforce, it’s an important step. We are not here to micromanage college sports. We are here to put forward a framework that strengthens it — that ensures athletes can succeed on the field without losing sight of their futures off of it. “I am proud of the work this subcommittee has done on this issue, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this across the finish line. And Go Gators!” ###



May 21, 2025
Press Release

Subcommittee on CMT Holds Hearing on Seizing America’s AI Opportunity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, led a hearing titled AI Regulation and the Future of US Leadership .  “Our task is to protect our citizens and ensure that we don’t cede U.S. AI leadership. Much of the AI marketplace is comprised of small start-ups looking to get a foothold in this revolutionary space,” said Chairman Bilirakis. “And heavy-handed regulations may ensure that the next great American company never makes it. If we fail in this task, we risk ceding American leadership in AI to China, which is close on our heels.”  Watch the full hearing here .   Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing: Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01): “In the face of Chinese progress in emerging technologies, I'm concerned about the US's ability to maintain its leadership position, if in fact we still have one – I’d like to get your opinion on that – in an AI race. Especially if we were to follow the European approach, which I don't see us doing, or allow a patchwork of AI rules to develop across the various states. So with that, if you could just share, are you confident? Are we still in the lead in AI? And can we continue to maintain the edge in AI technology over China on this path?” Mr. Bhargava: “Yes, I believe the US does still have a lead, but many of the Chinese models are 85 to 90% of the way there to where the cutting-edge US models are. So I'd say it's not a major lead, but we certainly do have a lead from a technology perspective of most of the evaluations of AI models done.” Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23): “As the Chairman of the House AI Task Force last year, and as someone who saw this group of 24 members of Congress from both sides all come together on this issue, it really hurts my heart that it's being painted as such a divisive, partisan issue because I don't think it is. You know, the assertions have been made that this was a last-minute thing and ‘in the dead of night.’ I think someone used the phrase ‘it was inserted,’ but I want to talk about the motivation here. It's been very alarming, as we have seen in the first 5 months of this year go by, the number of bills introduced on the topic of AI regulation in state legislatures across the country. Over 1,000 now have been introduced and this is what's lending urgency to this issue.” Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15): “Artificial intelligence is not just the technology of the future. It is already transforming the way that we live, work, and govern, and it is reshaping nearly every sector of our economy. The question before us is not whether to act, it is how to act wisely. So as policy makers, we have two responsibilities. One is to protect the public from real risks, but second, to ensure that American innovation continues to lead the world. Those goals are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the right policy framework can achieve both, so I appreciate you all being here today to help us strike that balance.” ###



May 14, 2025
Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis Announce Subcommittee Hearing on Seizing America’s AI Opportunity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Chairman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, announced a hearing titled AI Regulation and the Future of US Leadership . “Burdensome and conflicting AI legislation stifles innovation and undermines the success of entrepreneurs. Europe is seeing the effects of their heavy-handed regulations, as they continue to fall further behind on cutting-edge technologies,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis. “We look forward to considering a pro-innovation agenda that encourages the development and deployment of AI at scale at home and supports U.S. AI leadership abroad.” Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing titled AI Regulation and the Future of US Leadership WHAT: Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing on ensuring a pro-innovation AI regulatory environment. DATE: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 TIME: 10:15 AM ET LOCATION: 2322 Rayburn House Office Building This notice is at the direction of the Chairmen. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be live streamed online at energycommerce.house.gov . If you have any questions concerning the hearing, please contact Alex Khlopin with the Committee staff at Alex.Khlopin@mail.house.gov . If you have any press-related questions, please contact Daniel Kelly at Daniel.Kelly@mail.house.gov . ###



Apr 24, 2025
Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis Lead E&C Republican Letter to DeepSeek Over Relationship with Chinese Communist Party

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, along with 10 members of the subcommittee, sent a letter to DeepSeek regarding their data practices and close relationship with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). “DeepSeek admits to sending Americans’ personal information to servers in China, where it is undoubtedly accessed by officials connected to the Chinese Communist Party. We are concerned that this relationship with agents having close connections to our primary adversary jeopardizes our data and our national security,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Bilirakis. “To ensure Americans and their businesses are secure from foreign interference, we are launching this investigation into DeepSeek and the risks it poses to our nation.” KEY LETTER EXCERPT: “By its own admission, the company’s mobile application—available on app stores in the U.S.—is sending Americans’ personal information to servers in the People’s Republic of China. According to media reports, the company is also sharing users’ personal information with other CCP-linked entities, including ByteDance Ltd. Researchers, meanwhile, have identified serious weaknesses in DeepSeek’s purported security controls and model safeguards. To address these risks, a growing number of states, including New York, Texas, and Virginia have banned DeepSeek on government devices, with states attorneys-general calling for a broader ban.” Background: On January 20, 2025, DeepSeek launched its open-source AI chatbot. On February 18, 2025, DeepSeek was accused of sharing user data with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. On March 6, 2025, 21 state attorneys-general urged Congressional leadership to prohibit government devices from “downloading and using the Chinese Communist Party’s DeepSeek AI Software.” On April 16, 2025, the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party published a report on DeepSeek funneling American data to the CCP and manipulating results to align with CCP propaganda. The Committee members requested answers to the following questions: Provide a detailed description of the types and sources of data used to train your AI models, including any U.S. personal or proprietary information. Confirm whether information entered into your AI applications or chatbots by American consumers or businesses is used to train your AI models. If yes, identify where this information is stored and accessed from, and whether it is shared with any state entity of the People’s Republic of China or other Chinese companies. Describe the technical, administrative, and physical controls used to secure personal and proprietary information associated with your AI offerings, as well as your process for evaluating the security of third-party service providers. Provide a detailed description of any U.S. technology products or services used to develop, integrate, or bring to market your AI offerings. This includes the use of open and closed source AI models developed by U.S. companies and the unauthorized “distillation” of American models. Provide a detailed description of how your AI models are developed and trained, including any steps taken to influence system outputs for alignment with Chinese Communist Party ideology or political goals. Provide a detailed description of any direct or indirect subsidies you receive from the People’s Republic of China, or its political subdivisions, related to AI development. Confirm whether your company has received a request from the People’s Republic of China, or its political subdivisions, for data related to your company’s AI offerings. This includes personal and proprietary data used to train or finetune an AI model and data ingested by your AI services. CLICK HERE to read the full letter. CLICK HERE to read the story from Fox News. ###