[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3040-H3042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPLOYING AMERICAN BLOCKCHAINS ACT OF 2023
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (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, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6572
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 distributed 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) Covered nongovernmental representatives.--The term
``covered nongovernmental representatives'' means
representatives as specified in the second sentence of
section 135(b)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.
2155(b)(1)), except that such term does not include
representatives of 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 transferable,
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) Function 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 support the leadership of the United
States with respect 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) developing policies and recommendations on issues and
risks 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 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;
(2) 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;
(3) helping to promote the leadership of the United States
with respect 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 through the establishment of a Blockchain
Deployment Program in the Department of Commerce;
(4) 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;
(5) supporting engagement with the public to promote the
best practices described in subsection (c);
(6) considering policies and 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;
(7) 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;
(8) supporting coordination of the activities of the
Federal Government related to the security of blockchain
technology and other distributed ledger technology,
applications built on blockchain technology or other
distributed ledger technology, tokens, and tokenization; and
(9) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, establishing advisory committees 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, the 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--
(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) covered nongovernmental representatives;
(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 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;
[[Page H3041]]
(2) support the interoperability of blockchain technology
or other distributed ledger technology, applications built on
blockchain technology or other distributed ledger technology,
tokens, and tokenization;
(3) 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;
(4) 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;
(5) reduce uncertainty and 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
(6) 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 this section,
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 for, 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 subsection (c)
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
subsection (c).
(f) Consultation.--In implementing this section, the
Secretary may, as appropriate, consult with the heads of
relevant Federal agencies.
(g) Termination of Program.--The Blockchain Deployment
Program established pursuant to subsection (b)(3) 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.
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 include 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 rise in strong support of H.R. 6572, the Deploying
American Blockchains Act. I thank the sponsor and lead on this
particular piece of legislation, Representative Bucshon, Dr. Bucshon,
for his tireless efforts. He is definitely on a roll here.
According to a report from Electric Capital, the United States is at
serious risk of losing our global leadership in blockchain technology.
The report states that in 2015, 40 percent of all blockchain
developers were based in the United States, but today, that number has
fallen to just 29 percent, Mr. Speaker, and it is continuing to
decline. We can't let that happen. We have to stop that.
Our country benefited greatly from our leadership in the development
and deployment of the internet decades ago, but we cannot cede
leadership over critical technologies like blockchains to others.
This important bill will direct the Secretary of Commerce to take
actions necessary to promote U.S. competitiveness related to the
deployment, use, and new applications of this particular piece of
technology.
Instead of pushing American innovators abroad, the Secretary of
Commerce needs to ensure that American innovators build here in the
United States of America.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting of H.R. 6572,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6572, the Deploying American
Blockchains Act. For decades, our Nation's technological leadership has
helped build the largest, most dynamic economy in the world, but we
must continue working to ensure we outcompete the rest of the world
because our economic rivals are trying to close the gap.
Last Congress, House Democrats championed historic legislation, the
Chips and Science Act, that President Biden signed into law.
This bill makes transformational investments in research and
development, science and technology, and the workforce of the future.
It will help us maintain our Nation's leadership in the industries of
tomorrow, including nanotechnology, clean energy, quantum computing,
and artificial intelligence.
The Chips and Science Act is already making a huge difference, but we
must build on its success. H.R. 6572, the Deploying American
Blockchains Act, commissions the Department of Commerce to support the
leadership in the United States with respect to blockchain technology,
which may have useful applications for supply chain monitoring, data
security, and financial transactions.
I commend Representatives Blunt Rochester, Dingell, and Bucshon for
their leadership on this issue, and I encourage all of my colleagues to
support this bipartisan bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).
Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6572, the
Deploying American Blockchains Act, that I introduced alongside
Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester.
This bill will promote American innovation and help develop the use
of blockchains and distributed ledger technologies throughout the U.S.
economy.
Americans are leaders in utilizing blockchains in public and private
sector areas, ranging from ensuring the traceability of drugs to
managing supply chains for manufacturers.
Unfortunately, in recent years, our leadership position has seriously
diminished as other countries see and embrace the promise that
blockchains hold.
According to a 2023 report, the United States is at serious risk of
losing its global leadership in blockchain.
In 2015, 40 percent of blockchain developers were based in the United
States. In 2022, that number was just 29 percent and dropping. Our
share continues to dwindle.
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The Deploying American Blockchains Act will help rectify this trend
by requiring the Secretary of Commerce to create a program to help
promote the competitiveness of the United States in the deployment,
use, and application of blockchains.
Instead of pushing American innovators abroad, the Department of
Commerce should work with American innovators to build their products
here.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Deploying American
Blockchains Act.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I will close by saying that, again, this is
important in terms of our competitiveness globally.
I ask all our colleagues to vote in favor of this bill on a
bipartisan basis, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on
this particular 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. 6572, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________