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H.R. 4985: Digital Defense Leadership Act

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H.R. 4985: Digital Defense Leadership Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-08-06 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

AI-relatedfederal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-08-06 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Vela, Filemon [D-TX-34] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Digital Defense Leadership Act

Plain summary

Digital Defense Leadership Act This bill addresses and implements various programs and policies related to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies for national defense, including by requiring the President to transmit to Congress a national strategy relating to the global information domain and requiring the development of new federal and military career positions related to artificial intelligence and software development.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Digital Defense Leadership Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Vela, Filemon [D-TX-34] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Scott H. Peters (D-CA)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Computer systems that do tasks that usually need human judgment, such as recognizing images, understanding language or making predictions. Laws about AI often cover how it is used, tested, disclosed or limited.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4985 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117