A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has introduced legislation that could shape how the nation prepares for the workforce implications of artificial intelligence. The proposed Economy of the Future Commission Act, introduced by Mark Warner (D-VA) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), would establish a national commission charged with examining how AI is likely to reshape the U.S. economy and workforce—and recommending policy responses.
If enacted, the commission would bring together bipartisan members of Congress along with experts from industry, academia, and federal agencies focused on labor, education, and economic policy. The goal would be to provide Congress with structured analysis and practical policy recommendations addressing the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in the labor market.
Senator Warner emphasized the urgency of preparing workers and institutions for technological change, noting that AI is expected to transform nearly every sector of the economy. According to Warner, the central question is not whether change will occur, but whether policymakers and institutions are prepared to respond. The commission is intended to support that preparation by examining how workers can gain new skills, how individuals displaced by technological change can be supported, and how the United States can remain competitive in emerging industries.
Senator Rounds framed the proposal in similar terms, describing the commission as a way to help maintain U.S. leadership in innovation while ensuring long-term economic prosperity.
Under the legislation, the commission would produce two reports to Congress within a 13-month period. The first report, due within seven months of the bill’s enactment, would analyze expected employment changes driven by AI and provide information resources to help the public better understand the technology. The second report, due within 13 months, would present legislative recommendations addressing several policy areas, including:
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Education and workforce training
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Reskilling and worker transitions
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Unemployment insurance policy
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Tax policy related to technological change
The commission would be co-chaired by two members of Congress—one Republican and one Democrat—with one representing the Senate and the other the House of Representatives. In addition to lawmakers, members would include leaders from government agencies and subject-matter experts from the private sector and universities.
Beyond workforce policy, the commission would also examine broader economic and technological questions. These include whether the federal government should pursue a national strategy for AI research investment and whether open-source or open-weight AI models could help small and midsize businesses compete while enabling governments to operate more efficiently.
The legislation would also direct the commission to study how AI integration into autonomous transportation systems could affect safety policies and regulatory frameworks.
The proposal has already drawn support from technology companies, academic leaders, and public-sector policy organizations. Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, said the legislation reflects the kind of forward-looking leadership needed as AI evolves rapidly. Similarly, Fred Humphries, corporate vice president of U.S. government affairs at Microsoft, described the bill as a pragmatic approach to supporting workers while promoting long-term economic growth.
Concerns about the potential scale of AI’s impact on employment continue to drive policy interest in the issue. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) previously suggested that as many as 100 million jobs could be affected by AI within the next decade, particularly in occupations such as fast-food service, accounting, and trucking.
Separately, Senator Warner recently joined Josh Hawley (R-MO) and several other senators in requesting that the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau begin integrating AI-related questions into federal labor force surveys. The request reflects growing concern among policymakers that the federal government currently lacks adequate data to measure how artificial intelligence is affecting employment patterns.
For workforce development professionals, the proposed commission signals increased federal attention to how AI may reshape labor markets, skill requirements, and worker transition policies. If the legislation advances, its findings could influence future strategies related to workforce training, labor market data, and economic policy in the AI era.