“The incoming Congress will certainly restore some sanity to Washington,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday.
The governor is setting her sights on a slate of federal priorities, including transit projects and healthcare support, while warning President Donald Trump against self-interested policy approaches.
The push comes as New York prepares for its own Responsible AI Safety and Education Act to take effect on Jan. 1. The statute requires major technology firms to publish explicit safety protocols or face civil penalties, though administration officials declined to name the two companies that have signed on so far.
“When they start looking for ways to regulate AI, the first place they should look is New York. Because we are building a national model for smart, sensible AI regulation,” Hochul said.
Hochul intends to coordinate closely with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Charles Schumer. Both lawmakers are currently positioning themselves for leadership roles on Capitol Hill, and Jeffries previously campaigned for Hochul on the eve of Election Day.
Despite the presence of numerous competing artificial intelligence enforcement proposals circulating in Washington, the governor maintains that federal lawmakers should specifically adopt New York’s regulatory framework. State budget officials have previously indicated that New York’s financial health in part hinges on AI companies’ success or failure.
Beyond technology oversight, Hochul outlined a broader federal wish list during her Tuesday press briefing. Her administration is seeking federal dollars to support healthcare initiatives, fund transit projects such as the Interborough Express, and reigniting offshore wind projects.
Relations with the White House remain strained. Hochul said that she has not spoken with President Trump since before Nov. 3, using the press conference to caution him against advancing policies she described as “only motivated by what’s best for himself and his family, which has been his signature approach for the last two years.”
“Americans deserve better. They sent a loud message,” she added.
When asked about potential disruptions stemming from upcoming leadership battles for Schumer and Jeffries, Hochul dismissed concerns that congressional infighting might stall her legislative agenda. “There’s always leadership challenges at the beginning of a session,” Hochul said.
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