US House Committee Passes Bill to Promote Blockchain Deployment

Introduction

A pro-blockchain bill has been unanimously passed by the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill aims to increase the country's use of blockchain technology by tasking the U.S. commerce secretary with promoting its deployment.

The Deploying American Blockchains Act of 2023

The House Committee voted 46-0 to pass H.R. 6572, also known as the Deploying American Blockchains Act of 2023. The bill, which is 13 pages long, directs the Secretary of Commerce to take actions that promote the competitiveness of the United States in relation to blockchain technology. This includes its deployment, use, application, and overall competitiveness.

Promoting US Leadership in Blockchain Development

Cody Carbone, the policy head for the blockchain advocacy group the Chamber of Digital Commerce, praised the committee for passing the bill on Twitter. Carbone believes that the bill will help preserve U.S. leadership in blockchain development, which is crucial considering that China currently owns 84% of all blockchain patents.

Supporting Blockchain Adoption

If passed, the bill would require the commerce secretary to create a "Blockchain Deployment Program" to support the use of blockchain technology. Additionally, government advisory committees would be established to assist with blockchain adoption. These committees would include federal agency representatives, blockchain industry stakeholders, and experts.

Improving Coordination and Future Preparedness

The bill also aims to improve coordination among federal agencies interested in using blockchain technology. Studies on the current use of blockchain by federal agencies, as well as their future preparedness to adopt the technology, would also be conducted.

Next Steps

The bill will now proceed to the House for a vote. If passed, it will need to go through the Senate before receiving final Congressional and presidential approval.