The Congressional Robotics Caucus, WPI, and MassRobotics focus on U.S. robotics coverage. Supply: MassRobotics
Whereas the U.S. doesn’t have a centralized industrial coverage, varied stakeholders have labored to raise the precedence of robotics. Final week, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) introduced the relaunch of the Congressional Robotics Caucus.
McGovern will function co-chair of the caucus with Representatives Bob Latta (R-OH), Haley Stevens (D-MI), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA).
“Serving as co-chair of the Congressional Robotics Caucus for the previous few years has opened my eyes to the guarantees and dangers related to the rise of robotics—whether or not enabled by synthetic intelligence or not,” acknowledged McGovern on his web site. “I look ahead to sharing modern concepts with members of the caucus for the nice of our instructional establishments, producers, and civil society companions nationally.”
Since 2007, the advisory physique of the U.S. Home of Representatives has served as a bipartisan effort. It has offered a discussion board to current and focus on points round robotics, labored to extend consciousness amongst members of Congress about robotics analysis and business, and promoted U.S. financial competitiveness.
The Congressional Robotics Caucus had not convened formally since 2019, in accordance with Henrik Christensen, the Qualcomm Chancellor’s Chair of Robotic Programs and a distinguished professor of pc science on the Division of Pc Science and Engineering at UC San Diego. He’s additionally the principle editor of “A Roadmap for U.S. Robotics.”
The caucus did take part in a Congressional briefing final yr, together with the Nationwide Science Basis (NSF), Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), and MassRobotics, to advertise a nationwide robotics technique.
U.S. faces aggressive challenges
Federal, state, and investor consideration has shifted to synthetic intelligence, however there must be interagency coordination of {hardware} and workforce initiatives to facilitate reshoring of producing, Christensen advised The Robotic Report.
Equally, Jeff Burnstein, president of the Affiliation for Advancing Automation (A3), had stated late final yr that McGovern supposed to restart the Congressional Robotics Caucus. Whereas A3 reported a slowdown in robotics spending in 2024, Burnstein expressed optimism in regards to the business.
The Worldwide Federation of Robotics (IFR) ranked the U.S. as eleventh when it comes to 2023 robotic density, or variety of robots per 100,000 human staff. In March 2025, China’s authorities introduced plans to speculate practically $137 billion in robotics, AI, and innovation over the subsequent 20 years, famous the IFR.
“As somebody who labored in a producing analysis lab and has visited practically 200 manufacturing companies in Michigan, I’ve seen firsthand how superior applied sciences—like robotics—are key to driving U.S. competitiveness,” stated Rep. Stevens.
“I look ahead to working with my fellow co-chairs to advance bipartisan insurance policies that assist our workforce, strengthen American manufacturing, and safe our world management in robotics,” she added. “At this crucial inflection level, the Robotics Caucus is extra essential than ever to making sure we win the race for the mid-Twenty first century.”
Robotic density within the manufacturing business in 2023. | Supply: IFR
Congressional Robotics Caucus to temporary lawmakers
Along with educating legislators, the Congressional Robotics Caucus plans talk with business specialists and focus on dangers and “efforts to enhance the accountable, moral, and sturdy deployment of robotics throughout many sectors.”
The caucus stated it “might discover matters reminiscent of schooling, worldwide competitiveness, a nationwide robotics technique, worker protections, employer incentives, and ethics, amongst others.” It plans to temporary members of Congress on the significance of taking note of automation domestically and internationally.
“As a pc engineer who has spent many years working in know-how, I imagine robotics will likely be one of the transformative forces of the Twenty first century,” wrote Rep. Obernolte. “From manufacturing and healthcare to agriculture and nationwide protection, robotics—particularly when paired with synthetic intelligence—will reshape practically each sector of our financial system.”
“The Congressional Robotics Caucus will be certain that Congress is provided with the data and instruments to assist innovation, safeguard our world management, and promote insurance policies that replicate American values,” he stated.
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Group to work with business specialists
The Congressional Robotics Caucus co-chairs stated they hope to supply a venue for his or her fellow Congresspeople to see how robots form their constituents’ communities.
“As co-chair of the Congressional Robotics Caucus, I stay dedicated to making sure america stays on the forefront of robotics and automation,” Rep. Latta stated. “By educating our colleagues, supporting analysis and growth, and inspiring public-private partnerships, the Robotics Caucus will assist to foster innovation and assist a workforce prepared to guide in a quickly evolving world financial system.”
The caucus stated it is going to have interaction outdoors stakeholders in key coverage developments and main points affecting the robotics sector.
“The Affiliation for Advancing Automation is worked up in regards to the institution of a Congressional Robotics Caucus within the 119th Congress,” commented A3, which has been a part of the advisory committee. “We applaud the bipartisan management of Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), and Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA), who characterize constituencies throughout America from coast to coast.”
“We imagine that accelerated adoption of robotics, together with enabling applied sciences like synthetic intelligence, machine imaginative and prescient, and movement management, will strengthen each U.S. business sooner or later,” the group stated. “Robotics and automation are important to bringing extra manufacturing again to the U.S. whereas creating higher, safer and higher-paying jobs for American staff. We look ahead to working with the Robotics Caucus to lift consciousness amongst policymakers and advance this crucial know-how space.”
