The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) held a Congressional Public Policy Briefing on Artificial Intelligence on March 18, 2026, at Florida International University (FIU) in Washington, D.C.
The briefing brought together a diverse group of experts in the technology field for an in-depth discussion on how organizations are protecting data throughout the AI lifecycle while continuing to support innovation.
The program began with opening remarks from CHLI Chairwoman, The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who reflected on the growing impact of AI across industries and the importance of balancing innovation with responsibility, privacy, and public trust.
Following the remarks, the event featured a special AI workshop led by our moderator, JC Gutierrez, Managing Director of Technology & Innovation at Amazon Web Services, which provided insights into the evolving role of AI across sectors and the importance of responsible implementation.
The briefing continued with a panel discussion that explored how data is used in AI to create real-world value for consumers and businesses, while addressing key challenges related to data privacy, cybersecurity, and trust.
Panelists included: CHLI Advisory Council Member, Combiz R. Abdolrahimi, Global Head of Government Affairs & Public Policy at ServiceNow; Taylor Barkley, Director of Federal Government Affairs at Abundance Institute; Anisha Mangalick, Assistant General Counsel at Intuit; and Anna Steers-Smith, Senior Advisor to the Chief AI Officer at NASA.
Panelists emphasized the importance of responsible AI implementation, stronger data governance, and collaboration between government and industry. The conversation also highlighted the need to balance innovation with transparency, accountability, and public confidence as AI continues to evolve.
The briefing concluded with a Q&A session, where audience members had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the AI challenges facing the U.S. today with the panel.
Thank you to our sponsors: Florida International University, Verizon, Dell Technologies, Oportun, Chevron, Johnson & Johnson, ServiceNow, Reynolds, Dominion Energy, Capital One, and Pfizer.
The program featured CHLI partner Katch Skills, a platform designed to capture and showcase formal and informal skills, turning everyday learning into measurable tools for growth. Register what you learned at our Annual Tech Talk: https://www.katchskills.ai/
View a full recording of the CHLI Public Policy Briefing: https://youtu.be/8jrxPQbkGrc?si=7ZNVCSmBhKyRkgLw
View pictures of the event: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCNyq7
ABOUT CHLI
The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) is the premier organization founded by former Members of Congress to advance economic prosperity with a focus on social responsibility and global competitiveness. CHLI is dedicated to advancing the Hispanic community’s diversity of thought and fostering a broad awareness of the heritage, interests, and views of Americans of Hispanic and Portuguese descent.
For more information about CHLI and its programs, please contact Mary Ann Gomez Orta at mgomezorta@chli.org.