Episode 141 - Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan

“One of my biggest complaints with public policy is we're too reactive. And because technology now changes so rapidly, if you're reactive, by the time you have a policy in place, it's outdated.” -Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan  The United States accounts for just 9% of global robotics installations while China accounts for 54% — a gap that Congresswoman McClellan believes demands a proactive response from Washington. That's the driving force behind the National Commission on Robotics Act (HR 7334), a bipartisan bill that would establish an 18-member Commission on American Leadership in Robotics to assess U.S. competitiveness, workforce needs, and supply chain security in robotics and AI. In this episode of the Manufacturing Matters podcast, TECH B2B Marketing's Winn Hardin and Jimmy Carroll are joined by Congresswoman McClellan, U.S. Representative for Virginia's 4th Congressional District, to discuss why now is the time for government to get ahead of the curve on robotics and AI policy — rather than react to it after the fact. The conversation highlights the key pillars any national robotics policy must address, from workforce development and reskilling to supply chain resilience and the ethical guardrails needed as AI and robotics increasingly converge. Congresswoman McClellan also discusses the makeup of the proposed commission, why its recommendations will need to be revisited far more frequently than traditional legislation allows, and why winning the AI race at the expense of communities, energy, and resources would be a Pyrrhic victory. Additional topics include real-world examples of robotics driving safety and efficiency — from bottling facilities to Amazon distribution centers — and how Congress can play a meaningful role in shaping the future of automation without stifling innovation. Support the show