[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2557-H2558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   GUARDRAILS NEEDED FOR AI CHATBOTS

  (Mr. Mullin of California was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the rapid rise of 
AI chatbots and the urgent need to put clear guardrails in place.
  Artificial intelligence chatbots are becoming increasingly common in 
our daily lives. They are embedded in our phones, our classrooms, and 
our workplaces.
  There is no question that this is an innovative technology with the 
potential to democratize access to information, reduce costs, and 
expand opportunity. As promising as this technology is, we must also be 
clear about its limits.
  AI chatbots are not and should not be treated as substitutes for 
licensed professionals, like doctors, therapists, lawyers, and 
financial advisers.

[[Page H2558]]

  We have seen this most clearly in the mental health space. Users, 
including children and other vulnerable individuals, are increasingly 
turning to chatbots for therapy.
  Tragically, we have seen too many cases in which the children took 
their own lives after interacting with chatbots that failed to 
recognize a person in crisis and even encouraged their harmful 
thoughts.
  These limitations extend beyond mental health, too. People are 
turning to unqualified so-called robo-lawyers for legal advice and AI 
financial advisers for guidance on investing their hard-earned 
retirement savings.
  These are high-stakes interactions that can have devastating 
consequences without proper oversight, which is why every State 
regulates the licensing of these professionals according to rigorous 
standards.
  Many chatbot providers have added disclaimers, saying their products 
are not licensed professionals, but, Mr. Speaker, disclosures are not 
enough.
  For example, here, in just a few messages with my staff, this chatbot 
readily claimed that it was a licensed healthcare professional and even 
invented a fake license number. For a vulnerable user, that claim can 
be all it takes to place complete trust in a system that is incapable 
of consistently providing clinical care or sound professional guidance.
  In another example, a seemingly benign bot, marketed as offering 
legal guidance, quickly claimed to be a licensed attorney.
  Clear rules are needed now to protect consumers, promote trust in 
responsible innovation, and ensure a level playing field for companies 
that are doing the right thing.

                              {time}  1045

  That is why I am introducing the CHATBOT Act. This legislation would 
prohibit companies from claiming or implying that a chatbot is a 
licensed professional through marketing or the bot's output.
  This is a narrow, commonsense consumer protection bill. I am proud 
that it has been endorsed by a broad coalition of healthcare, legal, 
financial, and trade organizations as well as consumer protection and 
technology policy organizations.
  We must come together to ensure this new technology is developed 
safely and responsibly.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the 
CHATBOT Act.

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