Reliable Artificial Intelligence Research Act of 2026
Requires Homeland Security prize competitions to advance AI interpretability and resistance to attacks.
In the House Homeland Security Committee since Sept. 24, 2026, 12 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
AI systems can be difficult to understand and vulnerable to attacks that change their outputs. The bill would have Homeland Security run prize competitions to improve AI interpretability and resistance to attacks. It would also authorize funding and require a report to Congress on results and research gaps.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Run interpretability research competitions
The Secretary of Homeland Security would have to start at least one prize competition to improve how people understand decisions made by AI products that are commercially available or widely used. The Secretary would consult specified federal officials and relevant industry experts, and could divide the competition into phases.
- Run adversarial robustness competitions
The Secretary would have to start at least one prize competition to develop AI models able to resist attacks in at least one high-impact, high-risk government or industry application. The competition could include phases for frameworks, models, or red-teaming, and would involve consultation with specified federal officials and relevant experts.
- Report on competition results
After the first competition concludes, the Secretary would report to the specified congressional committees on what the competitions reveal about interpretability and robustness, any gaps identified, and possible actions for Congress.
- Authorize competition funding
The bill would authorize $10,000,000 for the Secretary to carry out this section for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
The bill focuses on whether people can understand how AI systems reach decisions and whether those systems can withstand attempts to make them produce incorrect or harmful outputs. It directs attention to uses described as high-risk and high-value in government or industry.
The competitions would be intended to develop research and models in these areas, while the later report would identify gaps and suggest possible congressional action. The bill authorizes funding for this work but does not state how much the competitions themselves would cost.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026HOUSESEP 24, 2026By Rep. Pfluger with 4 original cosponsorsReferred to Homeland Security
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeSEP 24, 2026HOMELAND SECURITY NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 12 daysNo hearing yet
- 12 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 12, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
A coalition from 4 states
Plus the sponsor, a Republican. The smaller side has 1 member.
Plus the sponsor, a Republican. The smaller side has 1 member.
Rep. Pfluger’s record: sponsored 64 bills this Congress. 13 passed the House; 1 became law.
- Troy DowningR-MT-2ORIGINAL
- Josh HarderD-CA-9ORIGINAL
- Kimberlyn King-HindsR-MP-ALORIGINAL
- Daniel WebsterR-FL-11ORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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