As fears surrounding artificial intelligence escalate, U.S. lawmakers are feeling the pressure to act. House Democrats are urging Speaker Mike Johnson to cancel the legislative recess to prioritize the passage of critical AI safeguards, citing catastrophic risks. Meanwhile, bipartisan discussions continue in the Senate regarding the potential for mandatory shutdown switches for dangerous AI systems. After years of stagnation, Congress is awakening to the urgent demand for significant AI regulation in response to persistent warnings from researchers about the potentially dire consequences of unregulated AI development. Lawmakers are now racing against time to transform alarms about AI dangers into actionable legislation. However, disagreements persist among political factions on the best way forward, complicating efforts to establish effective guardrails. With the potential for AI to cause human extinction becoming a central topic, the legislative arena is increasingly focused on how to manage the threats posed by advanced AI technologies.