Deploying American Blockchains Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1664 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1664

   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

                           February 27, 2025

Mrs. Cammack (for herself and Mr. Soto) 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 2025''.

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;
            (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.
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