[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1361 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1361
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a working group to
recommend to Congress a definition of blockchain technology, and for
other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 26, 2019
Ms. Matsui (for herself and Mr. Guthrie) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in
addition to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
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A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a working group to
recommend to Congress a definition of blockchain technology, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Blockchain Promotion Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. WORKING GROUP TO RECOMMEND DEFINITION OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall establish within
the Department of Commerce a working group to be known as the
``Blockchain Working Group''.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Blockchain Working Group shall be
composed of a number of members to be determined by the
Secretary, to be appointed in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Appointment.--
(A) Representatives of federal agencies.--The
Secretary shall designate Federal agencies to be
represented on the Blockchain Working Group, as the
Secretary considers appropriate to ensure
representation of a cross-section of Federal agencies
that could use or benefit from blockchain technology.
The head of each agency so designated shall appoint an
officer or employee of such agency to serve as a member
of the Blockchain Working Group.
(B) Representatives of nongovernmental
stakeholders.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
appoint representatives of nongovernmental
stakeholders with respect to blockchain
technology to serve as members of the
Blockchain Working Group.
(ii) Representation of certain stakeholders
required.--The members of the Blockchain
Working Group appointed under clause (i) shall
include representatives of the following:
(I) Information and communications
technology manufacturers, suppliers,
software providers, service providers,
and vendors.
(II) Subject matter experts
representing industrial sectors other
than the technology sector that the
Secretary determines can benefit from
blockchain technology.
(III) Small, medium, and large
businesses.
(IV) Individuals and institutions
engaged in academic research relating
to blockchain technology.
(V) Nonprofit organizations and
consumer advocacy groups engaged in
activities relating to blockchain
technology.
(VI) Rural and urban stakeholders.
(c) Report to Congress.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Blockchain Working Group shall
submit to Congress a report that contains--
(A) a recommended definition of the distributed
ledger technology commonly referred to as ``blockchain
technology''; and
(B) recommendations for--
(i) a study to be conducted by the
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Communications and Information, in coordination
with the Federal Communications Commission, on
the impact of blockchain technology on
electromagnetic spectrum policy;
(ii) a study that examines a range of
potential applications, including non-financial
applications, for blockchain technology; and
(iii) opportunities within Federal agencies
to use blockchain technology.
(2) Consideration of recommendations in draft nist
report.--In making recommendations under paragraph (1), the
Blockchain Working Group may consider any recommendations
contained in the draft of National Institute of Standards and
Technology Internal Report 8202, entitled ``Blockchain
Technology Overview'', that was released in January 2018.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' means an
agency, as defined in section 551 of title 5, United States
Code.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Commerce.
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