As the voice for America’s startups, the American Innovators Network applauds the White House for taking action on the 50-state regulatory patchwork that poses an existential threat to Little Tech. While states have an important role to play in regulating AI use, it is critical AI policy in the U.S. ensures startups can keep building and the U.S. can maintain our competitive edge globally.

Startup founders already face immense challenges in building a company from the ground up, especially in AI where they are aiming to compete with well-resourced, well-established companies. A fragmented, 50-state regulatory regime creates barriers few startups can overcome, and this EO is an important step toward crafting a national standard on AI technology.

What is now needed most, is for Congress to pass a national framework to allow America’s entrepreneurs, researchers, and risk-takers to focus on doing what they do best: innovating, disrupting, and bringing game-changing products to market to benefit the American people.

We are encouraged that this EO will protect American innovation and are hopeful Congress will take this chance to create policy that supports innovation, ensures startups can compete, and protects users.