Rep. Veronica Escobar Urges US-China AI Treaty to Avert 'Race to Extinction'

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-TX) is calling for aggressive federal oversight of artificial intelligence, arguing that the current legal framework is failing to keep pace with the speed of technological advancement. The lawmaker is advocating for a fundamental shift in how the U.S. manages AI, prioritizing global stability and safety over rapid commercial innovation.

Central to Escobar's platform is the proposal for a formal treaty between the United States and China. According to her official office communications, such a bilateral agreement is necessary to prevent a "race to extinction" in AI development. Escobar has stated that Congress is failing the American people by allowing AI to develop faster than the laws intended to govern it.

The AI Kill Switch Act

To address immediate safety concerns, Escobar has cosponsored the AI Kill Switch Act (H.R. 9917, 119th Congress). This legislation would mandate that developers of powerful AI systems maintain the technical capability to throttle, suspend, or completely shut down their systems.

Under the proposed law, the authority to trigger these interventions in cases of catastrophic harm would be granted to the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Director of National Intelligence. This move aligns with Escobar's broader policy goal of establishing enforceable guardrails for big tech companies and putting "people before profits."

A Shift in Regulatory Strategy

This push for regulation comes as a growing number of policymakers and industry leaders express concern that large technology firms are deploying powerful systems without sufficient safeguards. The movement mirrors warnings from some AI industry executives who have called for a slower pace of development to ensure safety measures are fully integrated.

By treating AI as a potential existential risk rather than a standard commercial or privacy concern, Escobar is championing a high-interventionist model. This approach suggests that the risks associated with unbridled AI competition—particularly between global superpowers—outweigh the benefits of maintaining a competitive edge through rapid, unregulated deployment.

The Path Forward

Whether the U.S. can secure a treaty with China remains a significant diplomatic hurdle, as AI has become a cornerstone of national security and economic strategy for both nations. Observers will be watching to see if the AI Kill Switch Act gains broader bipartisan support or if the industry successfully lobbies against the mandate for government-triggered shutdowns.

For now, Escobar's stance marks a clear legislative effort to move AI governance away from voluntary industry commitments and toward hard, legally enforceable mandates that prioritize global survival over market dominance.