Will Burns

Will Burns is the Senior Legislative Assistant for Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23). He is the office lead handling the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies (robotics, quantum, etc.) policy portfolios.

Will worked closely with Rep. Obernolte during his time as Chairman of the Bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Task Force, and helped work on Task Force hearings as well as in drafting, negotiating, and publishing the final Report. In addition, Will works closely with relevant AI and technology policy committees, including the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (on which Rep. Obernolte is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology) and the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

He also engages with Senate Member offices and committee staff (Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Judiciary Committee, etc.), relevant White House and Executive Branch agency offices (including OSTP, NIST, NSF, Commerce Dept., Energy Dept., and others), and key industry and academic stakeholders on developing, writing, and advancing legislative priorities in the AI and emerging technology policy spaces.

Will is currently working on a significant number of AI policy issues and legislative initiatives, including bills targeting the development and implementation of a national framework for AI that focuses on federal preemption, model regulation, research security, consumer protection, national security and international competitiveness implications, education, and driving innovation and adoption.

A native of Washington, D.C., Will has been with Rep. Obernolte since October of 2021. Prior to his current position, Will served as the Congressman’s Military Legislative Assistant. Before getting his start on Capitol Hill, he received his dual undergraduate degree in International Relations and Medieval History from the University of St Andrews, Scotland.