[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6572 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6572

   To direct the Secretary of Commerce to take actions necessary and 
appropriate to promote the competitiveness of the United States related 
to the deployment, use, application, and competitiveness of blockchain 
   technology or other distributed ledger technology, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 4, 2023

   Mr. Bucshon (for himself and Ms. Blunt Rochester) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the Secretary of Commerce to take actions necessary and 
appropriate to promote the competitiveness of the United States related 
to the deployment, use, application, and competitiveness of blockchain 
   technology or other distributed ledger 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 ``Deploying American Blockchains Act 
of 2023''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Blockchain technology or other distributed ledger 
        technology.--The term ``blockchain technology or other 
        distributed ledger technology'' means a decentralized digital 
        database where data is--
                    (A) shared across a network of computers to create 
                a ledger of verified information among network 
                participants;
                    (B) linked using cryptography to maintain the 
                integrity of the ledger and to execute other functions; 
                and
                    (C) distributed among network participants in an 
                automated fashion to concurrently update network 
                participants on the state of the ledger and other 
                functions.
            (2) Non-governmental organization.--The term ``non-
        governmental organization'' means organizations described in 
        section 2155(b) of title 19 of United States Code, excluding 
        non-Federal governments.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce.
            (4) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, 
        or possession of the United States, and each federally 
        recognized Indian Tribe.
            (5) Token.--The term ``token'' means a transferrable, 
        digital representation of information recorded on blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology.
            (6) Tokenization.--The term ``tokenization'' means the 
        process of creating a token.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP ON BLOCKCHAIN.

    (a) Functions of Secretary.--The Secretary shall serve as the 
principal advisor to the President for policy pertaining to the 
deployment, use, application, and competitiveness of blockchain 
technology or other distributed ledger technology, applications built 
on blockchain technology or other distributed ledger technology, 
tokens, and tokenization.
    (b) Activities.--The Secretary shall take actions necessary and 
appropriate to promote the competitiveness of the United States related 
to the deployment, use, application, and competitiveness of blockchain 
technology or other distributed ledger technology, applications built 
on blockchain technology or other distributed ledger technology, 
tokens, and tokenization including by--
            (1) establishing best practices described in subsection (3) 
        to assist the private sector, the public sector, and public-
        private partnerships in the deployment of technologies needed 
        to advance the capabilities of blockchain technology or other 
        distributed ledger technology, applications built on blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
        tokenization;
            (2) developing policies and recommendations on issues and 
        risks pertaining to the deployment, use, application, and 
        competitiveness of blockchain technology or other distributed 
        ledger technology, applications built on blockchain technology 
        or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
        tokenization, including the issues of decentralized identity, 
        cybersecurity, key storage and security systems, artificial 
        intelligence, fraud reduction, regulatory compliance, e-
        commerce, health care applications, and supply chain 
        resiliency;
            (3) supporting and promoting the stability, maintenance, 
        improvement, and security of blockchain technology or other 
        distributed ledger technology, applications built on blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
        tokenization;
            (4) helping to promote the leadership of the United States 
        with respect to the use of blockchain technology or other 
        distributed ledger technology, applications built on blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
        tokenization;
            (5) promoting the national security and economic security 
        of the United States with respect to blockchain technology or 
        other distributed ledger technology, applications built on 
        blockchain technology or other distributed ledger technology, 
        tokens, and tokenization;
            (6) supporting engagement with the public to promote best 
        practices described in subsection (3);
            (7) considering policies or programs to encourage and 
        improve coordination among Federal agencies with respect to the 
        deployment of blockchain technology or other distributed ledger 
        technology, applications built on blockchain technology or 
        other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and tokenization;
            (8) examining--
                    (A) how Federal agencies can benefit from utilizing 
                blockchain technology or other distributed ledger 
                technology applications built on blockchain technology 
                or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
                tokenization;
                    (B) the current use by Federal agencies of 
                blockchain technology or other distributed ledger 
                technology, applications built on blockchain technology 
                or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
                tokenization;
                    (C) the current and future preparedness and ability 
                of Federal agencies to adopt blockchain technology or 
                other distributed ledger technology, applications built 
                on blockchain technology or other distributed ledger 
                technology, tokens, and tokenization; and
                    (D) additional security measures Federal agencies 
                may need to take to--
                            (i) safely and securely use blockchain 
                        technology or other distributed ledger 
                        technology, applications built on blockchain 
                        technology or other distributed ledger 
                        technology, tokens, and tokenization, including 
                        to ensure the security of critical 
                        infrastructure; and
                            (ii) enhance the resiliency of Federal 
                        systems against cyber threats to blockchain 
                        technology or other distributed ledger 
                        technology, applications built on blockchain 
                        technology or other distributed ledger 
                        technology, tokens, and tokenization;
            (9) support the coordination of current and future 
        activities of the Federal government related to the security of 
        blockchain technology and other distributed technologies, 
        applications built on blockchain technology or other 
        distributed ledger technology, tokens, and tokenization;
            (10) establishing a Blockchain Deployment Program to 
        support American leadership in the deployment and use of 
        blockchain technology and other distributed ledger technology, 
        applications built on blockchain technology or other 
        distributed ledger technology, tokens, and tokenization; and
            (11) establishing advisory committees, not later than 180 
        days after the date of the enactment of this Act, to support 
        the adoption of blockchain technology or other distributed 
        ledger technology, applications built on blockchain technology 
        or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
        tokenization, membership of which shall include--
                    (A) the Secretary;
                    (B) representatives of Federal agencies (as 
                determined necessary by the Secretary); and
                    (C) nongovernmental stakeholders with expertise 
                related to blockchain technology or other distributed 
                ledger technology, including representatives of--
                            (i) blockchain technology or other 
                        distributed ledger technology infrastructure 
                        operators, suppliers, service providers, and 
                        vendors;
                            (ii) application developers building on 
                        blockchain technology or other distributed 
                        ledger technology;
                            (iii) developers and organizations 
                        supporting the advancement and deployment of 
                        public blockchain technology or other 
                        distributed ledger technology;
                            (iv) subject matter experts representing 
                        industrial sectors that can benefit from 
                        blockchain technology or other distributed 
                        ledger technology;
                            (v) small, medium, and large businesses;
                            (vi) think tanks and academia;
                            (vii) nonprofit organizations and consumer 
                        groups;
                            (viii) cybersecurity experts;
                            (ix) rural stakeholders;
                            (x) Non-governmental organizations;
                            (xi) artists and the content creator 
                        community; and
                            (xii) other stakeholders with relevant 
                        expertise (as determined necessary by the 
                        Secretary).
    (c) Best Practices.--The Secretary, shall, on an ongoing basis, 
facilitate and support the development and dissemination of best 
practices with respect to blockchain technology or other distributed 
ledger technology, applications built on blockchain technology or other 
distributed ledger technology, tokens, and tokenization that--
            (1) support interoperability of blockchain technology or 
        other distributed ledger technology, applications built on 
        blockchain technology or other distributed ledger technology, 
        tokens, and tokenization;
            (2) support operations, including hashing and key storage 
        and security systems, that form the foundation of blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, applications 
        built on blockchain technology or other distributed ledger 
        technology, tokens, and tokenization;
            (3) reduce cybersecurity and other risks that may 
        compromise blockchain technology or other distributed ledger 
        technology, applications built on blockchain technology or 
        other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and tokenization;
            (4) reduce uncertainty risks in the use of blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, applications 
        built on blockchain technology or other distributed ledger 
        technology, tokens, and tokenization; and
            (5) quantify the value and potential cost savings 
        associated with adoption of blockchain technology or other 
        distributed ledger technology, applications built on blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
        tokenization, including through comparative analyses of 
        competing and existing technologies within specific industry 
        applications.
    (d) Additional Requirements.--In carrying out subsection (3), the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) consult closely and regularly with stakeholders, 
        including private sector individuals and entities, and 
        incorporate industry expertise;
            (2) collaborate with private sector stakeholders to 
        identify prioritized, flexible, repeatable, performance-based, 
        and cost-effective approaches to the deployment of blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, applications 
        built on blockchain technology or other distributed ledger 
        technology, tokens, and tokenization;
            (3) disseminate research and information pertaining to the 
        use of, and marketplace for, blockchain technology or other 
        distributed ledger technology, applications built on blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
        tokenization;
            (4) develop standardized terminology, and promote common 
        understanding of blockchain technology or other distributed 
        ledger technology, applications built on blockchain technology 
        or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
        tokenization;
            (5) ensure the best practices described in paragraph (3) 
        facilitate the ease of use of blockchain technology or other 
        distributed ledger technology, applications built on blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
        tokenization;
            (6) support open-source infrastructure, data management, 
        and authentication activities with respect to blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, applications 
        built on blockchain technology or other distributed ledger 
        technology, tokens, and tokenization; and
            (7) consider the needs and interests of both the private 
        and public sector, including small businesses and Federal, 
        State, and local governments.
    (e) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
construed to--
            (1) require a private entity to share information with the 
        Secretary;
            (2) require a private entity to request assistance from the 
        Secretary;
            (3) require a private entity to implement any measure or 
        recommendation suggested by the Secretary in response to a 
        request by the private entity; or
            (4) require the adoption of the best practices described in 
        paragraph (3).
    (f) Consultation.--In implementing this section, the Secretary may, 
as appropriate, consult with the heads of relevant Federal agencies.
    (g) Termination.--The Blockchain Deployment Program established 
subsection (J) by shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall make public on the website 
of the Department of Commerce and submit to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that includes--
            (1) a description of the activities of the Secretary under 
        this Act during the preceding year;
            (2) any recommendations by the Secretary for additional 
        legislation to strengthen the competitiveness of the United 
        States with respect to blockchain technology or other 
        distributed ledger technology, applications built on blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
        tokenization; and
            (3) a description of any emerging risks and long-term 
        trends with respect to blockchain technology or other 
        distributed ledger technology, applications built on blockchain 
        technology or other distributed ledger technology, tokens, and 
        tokenization.
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