Why It Matters

The House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade advanced 12 bills on Sept. 1 addressing semiconductor and quantum competitiveness, artificial intelligence, automotive supply chains and consumer protection.

The package included measures addressing memory-chip shortages, open-source AI, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, ticket bots, scams, teen social media use and nitrous oxide abuse. All 12 bills were forwarded to the full Energy and Commerce Committee by voice vote.

The Big Picture

The markup bundled legislation across four policy areas, technology and competitiveness, automotive and manufacturing, consumer protection, and packaging and recycling.

On technology and competitiveness, the panel considered the American Quantum Competitiveness Act, H.R. 10163, which would direct the Commerce Department to promote trusted quantum supply chains and U.S. commercial leadership in quantum technology. The Memory Chip Competitiveness Assessment Act, H.R. 10170, would require the department to assess the competitiveness and resilience of the U.S. memory-chip supply chain. H.R. 10152 is the Open-Source AI Leadership Act.

The Chip EQUIP Act, H.R. 6207, would prohibit certain recipients of federal semiconductor incentives from purchasing specified semiconductor manufacturing equipment from foreign entities of concern and their subsidiaries.

On automotive policy, the Automotive National and Economic Security Act, H.R. 10158, would require the Commerce Department to assess the U.S. automotive industry's reliance on China and other foreign countries of concern.

Consumer protection measures included the Reducing Exploitative Social Media Exposure for Teens Act, H.R. 6488; the Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act, H.R. 5967; the Mitigating Automated Internet Networks for (MAIN) Event Ticketing Act, H.R. 2713; the PROTECT USA Act, H.R. 9385; and the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act, H.R. 7945.

The packaging measures included the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act of 2025, H.R. 6832, and the Recycled Materials Attribution Act, H.R. 7502.

What They're Saying

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), the subcommittee chair, framed the package around consumer protection and U.S. competitiveness. He said the Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act would coordinate federal efforts to identify emerging scams and develop prevention strategies, while the MAIN Event Ticketing Act targets ticket bots and other actors circumventing online ticket-purchasing rules.

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), chair of the full Energy and Commerce Committee, said the legislation addressed open-source artificial intelligence, memory chips, quantum technology and advanced manufacturing equipment, as well as the automotive industry's strategic role and China's effects on U.S. consumers and manufacturers.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), the full committee's ranking member, described the package as bipartisan and highlighted measures addressing event ticketing, semiconductors, consumer protection and U.S. competitiveness.

Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA), a sponsor of the Nitrous Oxide Safety Act, discussed health risks associated with recreational nitrous oxide use. He said inhaling nitrous oxide could cause death or serious health effects and noted that families affected by nitrous oxide abuse planned to come to Washington to advocate for the legislation.

Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) cited the Federal Trade Commission's history of bipartisan action against deceptive practices while discussing consumer protection.

The markup proceeded without witnesses, moving directly to consideration of the legislation and amendments. The subcommittee ultimately forwarded each of the 12 measures to the full committee by voice vote.

Political Stakes

Fiscal year 2026 marks the final fiscal year in which the Commerce Department is scheduled to receive CHIPS Act appropriations for semiconductor manufacturing incentives.

The markup's semiconductor measures address a different stage of federal technology policy, including supply-chain resilience, restrictions involving foreign entities of concern and assessments of U.S. competitiveness in memory-chip production. The package also extends beyond semiconductors to quantum technology and open-source AI.

The Bottom Line

All 12 measures advanced from the subcommittee to the full Energy and Commerce Committee.

The full committee scheduled a Sept. 16 markup of 16 bills that includes 10 measures considered by the subcommittee: H.R. 10158, H.R. 6832, H.R. 7502, H.R. 9385, H.R. 10170, H.R. 10152, H.R. 6207, H.R. 10163, H.R. 7945 and H.R. 2713.

The Sept. 16 agenda does not include H.R. 5967, the Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act, or H.R. 6488, the RESET Act.

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article