Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act of 2025
Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act of 2025 directs the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Secretary of State to take concrete steps to boost United States participation in developing standards and specifications for artificial intelligence and other critical and emerging technologies. The bill creates three main avenues: (1) a mandatory congressional briefing within one year on opportunities for federal support of industry-led standards work; (2) a publicly accessible web portal to inform industry and federal agencies about international standards efforts and how to participate; and (3) a pilot program that provides grants to eligible entities to host AI and related standards meetings in the United States. The act also requires guidance for the pilot program, biennial or annual briefings to Congress on its progress, and contemplates possible permanent implementation if feasible, with a five-year sunset and a $5 million authorization for 2024–2028. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen U.S. leadership in setting global technical standards by increasing US-hosted meetings, improving information flow, and coordinating government participation in international standardization activities related to AI and other critical technologies.
Key Points
- 1Briefing to Congress within 1 year: The Director, in coordination with the Secretary of State, must provide a briefing outlining opportunities for federal support of industry-led standards work, with interagency consultation and analysis of current activities, key standards bodies, and where US-hosted meetings could boost participation.
- 2Web portal for standards participation: A publicly accessible portal (developed with State) will list international standards efforts, ongoing activities, and how to access standards, with possible partnerships with NGOs to run the portal.
- 3Pilot program to host US meetings: Within 180 days, a pilot program will award grants to eligible entities to host AI and other critical tech standards meetings in the United States, subsidizing up to 50% of costs and subject to a cap set by the Director.
- 4Eligibility and grant criteria: Grants go to entities developing relevant standards or hosting organizations that manage such activities with US participants or federal agency involvement; decisions consider prior hosting success, stability/growth of participant base, and connections to US standards work.
- 5Guidance and reporting: The Director, with State, will issue guidance on eligibility, funding, duration, merit reviews, priority areas, and expense reporting for the pilot program.
- 6Congressional briefings and potential permanence: In year three and annually thereafter, briefings will assess effectiveness, recipients, geographic distribution, and expenses; if feasible, the Director will develop recommendations for permanent implementation and submit them to Congress.
- 7Sunset and funding: The pilot program terminates five years after enactment; authorizes $5 million for fiscal years 2024–2028 to support the program.