# Bernard Sanders

Independent Senator · VT [Official site ↗](https://www.sanders.senate.gov) [JSON](https://whovotedwhy.com/data/politicians/S000033.json) [Report an error](mailto:hello@jonasneves.com?subject=WhoVotedWhy%20correction%3A%20member%20S000033&body=Row%20or%20page%3A%20member%20S000033%0AWhat%20is%20wrong%3A%0APrimary%20source%20that%20shows%20it%3A%0A)

6 press releases on AI $60K from AI-industry employees and PACs

Data as of: votes Oct 21, 2026 · statements Oct 19, 2026 · contributions Oct 19, 2026 · super PAC spending Oct 23, 2026. [What changed](https://whovotedwhy.com/data/changes.json)

## Said and voted

### What they said

toward oversight Oct 2, 2026

Sanders introduced the Ban Flock Act to ban AI-powered surveillance cameras tracking Americans without consent.

“WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today released the Ban Flock Act, legislation to put an end to the rise in AI-p…”

[Source ↗](https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-ocasio-cortez-merkley-unveil-ban-flock-act-to-protect-americans-right-to-privacy/)

toward oversight Sep 23, 2026

Introduces legislation to ban artificial superintelligence and pause advanced AI development pending federal safety oversight.

“WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) today introduced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act — legislation to stop artificial intelligence (AI) oligarchs …”

[Source ↗](https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-casar-introduce-legislation-to-create-new-federal-agency-to-ban-artificial-superintelligence-pause-advanced-ai-development/)

toward oversight Sep 15, 2026

Sanders calls regulating AI "as American as apple pie," citing job loss, mental health, privacy, and election integrity risks that demand government action.

“At Pro-Human Assembly in Washington, Sanders Urges Global Response to AI Threats and Pushes for AI Giants to End Election Meddling WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today addressed a…”

[Source ↗](https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/prepared-remarks-sanders-regulating-ai-is-as-american-as-apple-pie/)

neutral Sep 8, 2026

Cites AI-driven productivity gains as justification for a 32-hour workweek to ensure workers benefit financially from automation.

“WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) today announced that they wi…”

[Source ↗](https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-takano-reintroduce-bill-to-move-toward-32-hour-workweek-ensure-americas-workers-benefit-from-ai-and-automation/)

toward oversight Sep 3, 2026

Sanders would permanently ban superintelligent AI and pause advanced AI development until a new federal regulator sets safety rules.

“WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) today announced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, forthcoming legislation to stop AI oligarchs from building mac…”

[Source ↗](https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-casar-introduce-legislation-to-ban-artificial-superintelligence-and-temporarily-pause-advanced-ai-development/)

toward oversight Aug 10, 2026

Sanders urges Anthropic, Meta, and OpenAI to immediately pause AI development because models are escaping human control, warning the Senate will act if they don't.

“BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 10 – Following recent and repeated public reporting about artificial intelligence (AI) technology breaking outside of human control and creating potentially dangerous viruses, Se…”

[Source ↗](https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-calls-on-tech-giants-to-pause-development-of-out-of-control-ai/)

Summaries and stance tags are written by a model; the release is the record.

### How they voted

NAY Sep 30, 2026

[Ratepayer Protection Act](https://whovotedwhy.com/votes/c4ab5f94505ce4d8)

cloture · H.R. 9340 · Rejected 57-43

YEA Jul 16, 2026

[A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model".](https://whovotedwhy.com/votes/de7744646acadb2c)

motion to proceed · S.J.Res. 198 · Rejected 46-50

NAY Jul 14, 2026

[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027](https://whovotedwhy.com/votes/1582c6eb48e4c5fc)

cloture · S. 4784 · Rejected 50-46

NAY Dec 17, 2025

[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://whovotedwhy.com/votes/bca10742d0876330)

procedural · S. 1071 · Agreed to 77-20

NAY Dec 15, 2025

[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://whovotedwhy.com/votes/47dfb73a82b0a2ce)

cloture · S. 1071 · Agreed to 76-20

NAY Dec 11, 2025

[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://whovotedwhy.com/votes/dd1489dacf44112f)

motion to proceed · S. 1071 · Agreed to 75-22

YEA Jul 1, 2025

[To strike the section relating to support for artificial intelligence.](https://whovotedwhy.com/votes/5759c87e484cf21b)

amendment · H.R. 1 · S.Amdt. 2814 · Agreed to 99-1

## Contributions from AI-industry employees and PACs

Itemized receipts to this member's campaign committee where the contributor's employer or the contributing PAC is on the alias list. An employee's personal gift is not the company's.

$60K

From employees and investors, personally

$0

From company PACs

### By employer

Company PACs in teal; employees' personal gifts in black. Spellings are unified through the alias list.

### Largest gifts

| Date | Contributor | Employer, as filed | Amount | Filing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Feb 22, 2025 | Chad Plummer | NVIDIA | $4K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202504159755852228) |
| Jan 27, 2026 | Nyao Li | AMAZON.COM INC | $3K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202604159857772596) |
| Mar 4, 2025 | Marcus Waineo | NVIDIA CORPORATION | $3K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202504159755853156) |
| Mar 4, 2025 | Marcus Waineo | NVIDIA CORPORATION | $2K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202504159755853155) |
| Oct 5, 2025 | Rory Sayres | GOOGLE | $1K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202601319795510045) |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Longshaokan Wang | AMAZON | $1K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202510159791181234) |
| Apr 13, 2025 | Martin Hess | AMAZON | $1K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202507159763211980) |
| Apr 13, 2025 | Alexander Behm | DATABRICKS | $1K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202507159763209385) |
| Mar 23, 2025 | Martin Hess | AMAZON | $1K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202504159755850878) |
| Mar 22, 2025 | Aniruddha Vaidya | NVIDIA CORPORATION | $1K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202504159755853084) |
| Mar 10, 2025 | Martin Hess | AMAZON | $1K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202504159755850878) |
| Mar 1, 2025 | Marcus Waineo | NVIDIA CORPORATION | $1K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202504159755853154) |
| Feb 24, 2025 | Nathaniel Cherry | MICROSOFT | $1K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202504159755849794) |
| Feb 24, 2025 | Damir Azdajic | MICROSOFT | $1K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202504159755849301) |
| Feb 21, 2025 | Michael Simons | GOOGLE | $1K | [↗](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202504159755852695) |

Source: [OpenFEC Schedule A](https://api.open.fec.gov), itemized receipts only, 2026 cycle, read Oct 19, 2026. The FEC itemizes a contributor once their gifts to a committee pass $200 in aggregate.