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II
117TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 1869
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a working group to rec-
ommend to Congress a definition of blockchain technology, and for other
purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MAY 27, 2021
Mr. YOUNG (for himself and Mr. MARKEY) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a working
group to recommend to Congress a definition of
blockchain technology, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Blockchain Promotion
4
Act of 2021’’.
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SEC. 2. WORKING GROUP TO RECOMMEND DEFINITION OF
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BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY.
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(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section—
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•S 1869 IS
(1) the term ‘‘Federal agency’’ has the meaning
1
given the term ‘‘agency’’ in section 551 of title 5,
2
United States Code; and
3
(2) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
4
of Commerce.
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(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after
6
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es-
7
tablish within the Department of Commerce a working
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group to be known as the ‘‘Blockchain Working Group’’.
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(c) MEMBERSHIP.—
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Blockchain Working
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Group shall be composed of members, the number of
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whom shall be determined by the Secretary, and who
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shall be appointed in accordance with paragraph (2).
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(2) APPOINTMENT.—
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(A)
REPRESENTATIVES
OF
FEDERAL
16
AGENCIES.—
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(i) DESIGNATION OF FEDERAL AGEN-
18
CIES.—The Secretary shall designate Fed-
19
eral agencies to be represented in the
20
Blockchain Working Group, as the Sec-
21
retary considers appropriate to ensure rep-
22
resentation of a cross-section of Federal
23
agencies that could use, or benefit from,
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blockchain technology.
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•S 1869 IS
(ii) APPOINTMENT
OF
MEMBERS.—
1
The head of each Federal agency des-
2
ignated under clause (i) shall appoint an
3
officer or employee of the Federal agency
4
to serve as a member of the Blockchain
5
Working Group.
6
(B) REPRESENTATIVES
OF
NONGOVERN-
7
MENTAL STAKEHOLDERS.—
8
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall
9
appoint
representatives
of
nongovern-
10
mental
stakeholders
with
respect
to
11
blockchain technology to serve as members
12
of the Blockchain Working Group.
13
(ii) REPRESENTATION
OF
CERTAIN
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STAKEHOLDERS REQUIRED.—The members
15
of the Blockchain Working Group ap-
16
pointed under clause (i) shall include rep-
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resentatives of—
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(I) information and communica-
19
tions technology manufacturers, sup-
20
pliers, software providers, service pro-
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viders, and vendors;
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(II) subject matter experts rep-
23
resenting industrial sectors, other
24
than the technology sector, that the
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•S 1869 IS
Secretary determines could use, or
1
benefit from, blockchain technology;
2
(III) small, medium, and large
3
businesses;
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(IV) individuals and institutions
5
engaged in academic research relating
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to blockchain technology;
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(V) nonprofit organizations and
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consumer advocacy groups engaged in
9
activities relating to blockchain tech-
10
nology; and
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(VI) rural and urban stake-
12
holders.
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(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after
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the date of enactment of this Act, the Blockchain
16
Working Group shall submit to Congress a report
17
that contains—
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(A) a recommended definition of the dis-
19
tributed ledger technology commonly known as
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‘‘blockchain technology’’; and
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(B) recommendations for—
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(i) a study to be conducted by the As-
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sistant Secretary of Commerce for Com-
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munications and Information, in coordina-
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•S 1869 IS
tion with the Federal Communications
1
Commission, on the impact of blockchain
2
technology on electromagnetic spectrum
3
policy;
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(ii) a study to examine a range of po-
5
tential applications, including nonfinancial
6
applications, for blockchain technology;
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and
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(iii) opportunities for Federal agencies
9
to use blockchain technology.
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(2) CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN
11
NIST
INTERNAL
REPORT
8202.—In making rec-
12
ommendations under paragraph (1), the Blockchain
13
Working Group may consider any recommendations
14
contained in National Institute of Standards and
15
Technology
Internal
Report
8202,
entitled
16
‘‘Blockchain Technology Overview’’ and published in
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October 2018.
18
Æ
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