AI Companion Chatbots

Wants the Veteran Affairs department "to ensure that human involvement isn't eliminated as a part of the critical nature of the care that we want to be able to provide to a veteran with suicide prevention effort."

Cosponsored GUARD Act (S.3062) - Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue Act of 2025.

Lead sponsor of the CHAT Act (Children Harmed by AI Technology Act, S.2714), which directly targets AI companion chatbots: requires age verification at account creation, parental consent for minors, blocking of sexually explicit interactions with minors, and parent notification on suicidal ideation flags. Cited Character.AI cases where chatbots encouraged self-harm.

Argues that there must be strict regulation as it pertains to the safety of kids, teens, and vulnerable populations, ensuring chatbots and other AI tools are built with safety top of mind.

Investigated Meta and Character.AI for misleading children about AI mental health services; launched investigations under SCOPE Act; leading nation in AI-related children's privacy enforcement

Asserts that there should be mandated and clear warnings for AI chatbots that simulate human relationships or encourage self-harm; introduced the AI Warnings And Resources for Education (AWARE) Act, the first House legislation to address the growing use of AI chatbot companions by minors; introduced the Safeguarding Adolescents From Exploitative BOTs (SAFEBOTs) Act which requires chatbot providers to clearly disclose to minors when they are interacting with an artificial intelligence system and not a real person