Harlem Rep. Espaillat And Barragán Lead Caucus Efforts Addressing Impact Of AI Policies On Latino Communities

This month, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Nanette Barragán and CHC Deputy Chair Adriano Espaillat hosted the inaugural CHC roundtable.

The roundtable’s goal was to address the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) policies and advancements on Latino communities.

The first AI roundtable, led by Deputy Chair Espaillat, brought together key leaders to discuss the critical impact of AI technology, including AI biases and discrimination, as well as benefits such as the use of the technology to prevent fraud, remove language access barriers, increase workforce outflow and engagement, and AI deployment across small business, agriculture, and education sectors.

During their discussion, Barragán and Espaillat, were joined by Reps. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Darren Soto (FL-09), Vice Chair of Policy of the CHC, Jesus Chúy Garcia (IL-04), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), member of the Bipartisan House AI Taskforce, and heard from a distinguished panel of experts on their efforts to ensure AI policies reflect and are inclusive of the unique needs of Latinos around the nation.  

“This inaugural roundtable is a significant step toward ensuring that AI development benefits all communities, particularly those that have been underserved,” said Rep. Espaillat. “AI has the potential to revolutionize our society, but it must be developed and implemented responsibly. Our discussions set the foundation for an inclusive AI future that addresses the unique needs of Latino communities while emphasizing U.S. AI competitiveness, AI science, workforce issues, and managing the national AI Initiative set forth by the Biden-Harris administration.”

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“As AI continues to play a larger role in our modern world, it’s critical that AI services are not biased and serve everyone fairly. I’m thankful to Deputy Chair Adriano Espaillat for his leadership in convening the inaugural CHC AI roundtable and we appreciate House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu’s partnership in our effort,” said CHC Chair Barragán . “These roundtables provide our caucus and industry leaders with a collaborative space to learn about the various ways this technology is being used now and in the future.  We had an important discussion about the need for AI policies that prevent discrimination and do not leave behind our Latino communities.”

“This inaugural CHC AI roundtable underscores the crucial importance of bringing together leaders to address the transformative potential and critical challenges of artificial intelligence,” said Congressman Darren Soto. “As highlighted in our Jobs of the Future Act and Consumer Protection Technology Act, this discussion focused on AI’s ability to combat fraud, break down language barriers, retrain workers and enhance various sectors like agriculture and education. As the CHC continues to champion equity, inclusion, and economic empowerment, we are committed to holding a series of sessions to ensure that as AI evolves, its benefits are broadly and fairly distributed, while its risks are effectively managed.”

“Artificial intelligence has the power to change the world. At the same time, the American people expect us to put reasonable guardrails in place to make sure those advancements benefit everyone, including members of the Latino community,” said Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Lieu . “I was honored to join CHC Chair Nanette Barragan, Deputy Chair Adriano Espaillat, and other CHC Members to convene the first CHC AI roundtable. Together we must continue our work to harness the power of AI while minimizing its potential risks. I look forward to implementing meaningful AI policy to protect all Americans while making sure the United States remains the leader in AI development.”

“While AI continues to develop and grow, it’s vital that policymakers ensure these powerful technologies do not exacerbate existing inequalities in hiring and recruiting processes, health services, and other contexts. We need transparent, accountable, and inclusive AI systems free from bias against Latinos and every community of color,” said Congresswoman Velázquez . “Moreover, as Representatives of the Latino community in the U.S., we must ensure our communities have equal access to the work and educational opportunities spurred by AI innovation. I thank CHC Chair Barragán and Deputy Chair Espaillat for hosting this important discussion. I look forward to working with CHC and the rest of my colleagues in Congress to eliminate bias in AI and use this technology to advance equality and create opportunities for everyone.”

“As all sectors of society continue to move towards the use of AI, it’s fundamental for us as legislators and representatives of diverse communities to understand how they will be impacted,” said Congressman García. “While AI has the potential to create new job opportunities, it can also displace workers, and we must ensure this new technology does not widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots in communities impacted by the digital divide.”

Participants during the inaugural AI roundtable included Miriam Vogel, Chair of the National AI Advisory Committee (NAIAC) and President and CEO of Equal AI; Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, Senior Fellow of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, Director of the Center for Technology Innovation, and Co-Editor-in-Chief of TechTank; Susan Gonzales , Founder & CEO of AIandYou and Member of NAIAC; and senior research staff of the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC): Sabine Neschke, Jack Melde, and John Soroushian.

The CHC continues its collective engagement on a range of policy issues, including the future of AI, with a focus on ensuring equity, inclusion, and economic empowerment. This event marked the first in a series of AI related sessions the CHC will hold to further its engagement as use of the technology is expanded across public and private sectors. 

Watch replay of the CHC’s AI roundtable.

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fourth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 118th Congress. He is also a member of the House Budget Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Deputy Chair as well as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). Rep. Espaillat is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Photo credit: Rep. Espaillat.