[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3032-H3034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONSUMER SAFETY TECHNOLOGY ACT
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4814) to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to
establish a pilot program to explore the use of artificial intelligence
in support of the mission of the Commission and to direct the Secretary
of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission to study and report on the
use of blockchain technology and digital tokens, respectively, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4814
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Consumer
Safety Technology Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Pilot program for use of artificial intelligence
by Consumer Product Safety Commission.
TITLE II--BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Study on blockchain technology and its use in
consumer protection.
TITLE III--TOKEN TAXONOMY
Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Findings.
Sec. 303. Report on unfair or deceptive acts or practices
in transactions relating to tokens.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) the term ``consumer product'' has the meaning given
such term in section 3(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act
(15 U.S.C. 2052(a));
(2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce;
and
(3) the term ``token'' means a transferrable, digital
representation of information recorded on a blockchain or
other distributed ledger technology.
TITLE I--ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``AI for Consumer Product
Safety Act''.
SEC. 102. PILOT PROGRAM FOR USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BY
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Consumer Product Safety
Commission shall establish a pilot program to explore the use
of artificial intelligence by the Commission in support of
the consumer product safety mission of the Commission, as
described in section 2(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act
(15 U.S.C. 2051(b)).
(b) Requirements.--In conducting the pilot program
established under subsection (a), the Commission shall do the
following:
(1) Use artificial intelligence for at least 1 of the
following purposes:
(A) Tracking trends with respect to injuries involving
consumer products.
(B) Identifying consumer product hazards.
(C) Monitoring the retail marketplace (including internet
websites) for the sale of recalled consumer products
(including both new and used products).
(D) Identifying consumer products required by section 17(a)
of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2066(a)) to be
refused admission into the customs territory of the United
States.
(2) Consistent with section 6 of the Consumer Product
Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2055), consult with the following:
(A) Technologists, data scientists, and experts in
artificial intelligence and machine learning.
(B) Cybersecurity experts.
(C) Members of the retail industry.
(D) Consumer product manufacturers.
(E) Consumer product safety organizations.
(F) Any other person the Commission considers appropriate.
(c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the
conclusion of the pilot program established under subsection
(a), the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall submit to
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly available on
the website of the Commission, a report on the findings and
data derived from such program, including the extent to which
the use of artificial intelligence improved the ability of
the Commission to advance the consumer product safety mission
of the Commission.
TITLE II--BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Blockchain Innovation
Act''.
SEC. 202. STUDY ON BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND ITS USE IN
CONSUMER PROTECTION.
(a) In General.--
(1) Study required.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in
consultation with the Federal Trade Commission and any other
Federal agency the Secretary determines appropriate, shall
complete a study on the possible uses of blockchain
technology for consumer protection purposes, including
preventing or mitigating fraud and other unfair or deceptive
acts or practices.
(2) Requirements for study.--In conducting the study
required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall examine--
(A) existing and emerging uses of blockchain technology
that could help protect consumers, including by preventing or
mitigating fraud and other unfair or deceptive acts or
practices within the meaning of section 5 of the Federal
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45);
(B) trends in the commercial use of and investment in
blockchain technology to prevent or mitigate fraud and other
unfair or deceptive acts or practices as described in
subparagraph (A);
(C) best practices in facilitating public-private
partnerships in blockchain technology to prevent or mitigate
fraud and other unfair or deceptive acts or practices as
described in subparagraph (A);
(D) potential benefits and risks related to the use of
blockchain technology to prevent or mitigate fraud and other
unfair or deceptive acts or practices as described in
subparagraph (A);
(E) possible modifications to Federal regulations that
could encourage the use of blockchain technology to prevent
or mitigate fraud and other unfair or deceptive acts or
practices as described in subparagraph (A); and
(F) any other relevant observations or recommendations
related to the use of blockchain technology for consumer
protection purposes, including preventing or mitigating fraud
and other unfair or deceptive acts or practices as described
in subparagraph (A).
(3) Public comment.--In conducting the study required by
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide opportunity for
public comment and advice relevant to conducting the study.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 6 months after the
completion of the study required by subsection (a)(1), the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make
publicly available on the website of the Department of
Commerce, a report that contains the results of such study.
TITLE III--TOKEN TAXONOMY
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Digital Taxonomy Act''.
SEC. 302. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) it is important that the United States remains a leader
in innovation;
(2) tokens and blockchain technology are driving innovation
and providing consumers with increased choice and
convenience;
[[Page H3033]]
(3) the use of tokens and blockchain technology is likely
to increase in the future;
(4) the Federal Trade Commission is responsible for
protecting consumers from unfair or deceptive acts or
practices, including relating to tokens;
(5) the Commission has previously taken action against
unscrupulous companies and individuals that committed unfair
or deceptive acts or practices involving tokens; and
(6) to bolster the Commission's ability to enforce against
unfair or deceptive acts or practices involving tokens, the
Commission should ensure staff have appropriate training and
resources to identify and pursue such cases.
SEC. 303. REPORT ON UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRACTICES IN
TRANSACTIONS RELATING TO TOKENS.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Federal Trade Commission shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly available on
the website of the Commission, a report on--
(1) any actions taken by the Commission relating to unfair
or deceptive acts or practices in transactions relating to
tokens;
(2) any other efforts of the Commission to prevent unfair
or deceptive acts or practices relating to tokens; and
(3) any recommendations by the Commission for legislation
that would improve the ability of the Commission and other
relevant Federal agencies to further protect consumers from
unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the token
marketplace.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and insert extraneous material in the Record on this particular bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I express my support for H.R. 4814, the Consumer Safety
Technology Act led by Representatives Soto, Burgess, Trahan, and
Guthrie.
It should be no surprise, Mr. Speaker, that the global race for
economic dominance today is centered around technology, specifically
around emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and
blockchain.
Throughout this Congress, the Energy and Commerce Committee, led by
our chairwoman, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and our ranking member, Mr.
Pallone, has examined ways that the U.S. can continue to lead in the
development and deployment of such technologies.
In our subcommittee, we have discussed the need to ensure America
leads the world and wins this critical competition, particularly
against our adversaries, in this case, China, in every field. This
legislation will complement other initiatives we are undertaking.
If enacted, H.R. 4814 would ensure our consumer protection agencies
stay up to date with emerging technologies and would encourage the use
of emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain in support of
product safety and consumer protection.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their work on this particular
piece of legislation, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 4814.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 4814, the Consumer
Safety Technology Act.
Our consumer protection agencies play a critical role in ensuring
unsafe products do not enter the U.S. market. Advancements in
technology, especially as it relates to artificial intelligence, have
the potential to help alleviate the stress some of these agencies may
face in being underfunded and understaffed.
H.R. 4814 would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to
stay up to date on new and emerging technologies by integrating them
into their daily agency functions. It also requires the Federal Trade
Commission to study blockchain technologies and tokens.
Both the CPSC and the FTC do important work to protect all Americans
from dangerous products. While this bill will help assist them in those
efforts, it is no replacement for properly funding these agencies.
Mr. Speaker, I commend the main sponsor of this bill, Representative
Soto, a member of our committee, for his leadership on this issue, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto), the sponsor of this bill.
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, the
Consumer Safety Technology Act, H.R. 4814.
It directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to launch a pilot
program to explore the use of artificial intelligence to track injury
trends, identify hazards, monitor recalls, and identify products not
meeting importation requirements.
It also requires the Department of Commerce and other agencies to
study blockchain technology in the context of consumer products and
safety. It also directs the Department of Commerce and the Federal
Trade Commission to report on their efforts to address unfair and
deceptive trade practices related to digital tokens and to promote
innovation.
We heard in committee, Mr. Speaker, that the crooks are already using
AI on the internet and that we need the cops on the beat to have
artificial intelligence as well to keep our consumers safe.
Let's think about it. The internet is nearly infinite, and so are the
ways to push unsafe products and put consumers in harm's way. That is
why the Federal Trade Commission testified before our committee that
the use of artificial intelligence would help them protect consumers by
tracking trends of injuries involving a myriad of consumer products.
Thousands of injuries happen each day. It helps with identifying
consumer product hazards, categorizing them, and monitoring the sale of
recalled consumer products. Think of how much commerce happens every
day in America. It helps to identify consumer products that do not meet
the importation requirements.
It also requires a report to Congress on how and to what extent
artificial intelligence improved the agency's ability to advance its
mission.
The FTC also testified it would help them save money in that it would
be a really economic and efficient way to deploy other members of the
FTC to go after other areas. I do agree with the ranking member that
that is no substitute for making sure they have the full funding that
they need.
In addition, the blockchain technology study directs the Department
of Commerce to study the applications of blockchain and to address
fraud and unfair and deceptive trade practices. Blockchain can be used
in so many different ways, whether it is through cryptocurrency,
through storing data, through cybersecurity, or through communications.
Of course, this should be done in consultation with the Federal Trade
Commission, the FTC.
Finally, we have commissioned the Federal Trade Commission to report
to Congress on unfair and deceptive trade practices relating to tokens.
We have also seen a need to protect consumers and promote innovation.
We eventually need rules of the road, and this is helping get us there
with blockchain. We need more certainty so we can have growth in both
blockchain and cryptocurrency firms in the United States, giving them
an understanding and certainty of the laws and their obligations, and
also to protect consumers from scams like pump and dump, whitewashing,
and other financial schemes.
Mr. Speaker, for that and more, I am thrilled to be able to have this
bill be heard on the floor, and I thank my colleagues, Representatives
Burgess, Trahan, Guthrie, Castor, my fellow Floridian, Chairman Gus
Bilirakis, and our Ranking Member Frank Pallone for including this on
the agenda today.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill on both sides.
It is obviously an important consumer safety bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, this is a great deal. These bills aren't
high-
[[Page H3034]]
profile bills, but they are very important. They affect our
constituents directly, and we have to stay ahead of the crooks.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4814, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to direct
the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish a pilot program to
explore the use of artificial intelligence in support of the mission of
the Commission and to direct the Secretary of Commerce and the Federal
Trade Commission to study and report on the use of blockchain
technology and tokens, respectively.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________