The House Committee on Energy and Commerce in the United States has unanimously approved a pro-blockchain bill, marking a significant step in promoting the adoption of blockchain technology in the country. The bill, known as H.R. 6572 or the Deploying American Blockchains Act of 2023, received a unanimous 46-0 vote during a session aimed at clearing multiple legislative pieces.
The 13-page bill outlines the responsibility of the U.S. commerce secretary, Gina Raimondo, to take necessary actions to enhance the competitiveness of the United States in the deployment, use, application, and competitiveness of blockchain technology and other distributed ledger technology. Cody Carbone, the policy head for the Chamber of Digital Commerce, praised the committee’s decision, highlighting the bill’s role in preserving U.S. leadership in blockchain development.
The proposed legislation includes provisions for the commerce secretary to establish best practices, policies, and recommendations for both the public and private sectors when utilizing blockchain technology. It introduces a “Blockchain Deployment Program” to support the technology’s use, along with the creation of government advisory committees featuring federal agency representatives, blockchain industry stakeholders, and experts to facilitate blockchain adoption.
The bill also emphasizes promoting blockchain leadership and enhancing coordination among federal agencies interested in adopting blockchain technology. It mandates studies on current blockchain usage within federal agencies and assesses their readiness for future blockchain adoption.
While there are over 50 pro-crypto bills circulating in Congress since 2022, the Deploying American Blockchains Act is not considered among those with potentially major impacts, such as the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act. The latter addresses the classification of cryptocurrencies as commodities or securities and clarifies regulator jurisdictions.
The next step for the bill involves a vote in the House of Representatives, and if approved, it must pass through the Senate before receiving final congressional and presidential approval.
