With the new bill HR9067 submitted on Thursday, an office is to be created that “coordinates” the federal applications of blockchain technology.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Darren Soto, a Democrat from Florida’s 9th district, aims to “establish an office within the Department of Commerce to coordinate all non-defense-related blockchain technology-related operations and activities within the federal government.” .
As of December 31, the bill was referred to the House Committee for Energy and Trade.
While the text of the bill has not yet been released, the bill sponsor could provide some pointers on the types of blockchain technology applications that such an office would like to “coordinate”.
Soto has proven to be an increasingly vocal advocate for both cryptocurrencies – which he accepts for campaign donations – and blockchain technology in general in recent months.
Following news that the United States Postal Service had applied for a patent for a blockchain-based mail-in voting system, the co-chair of the Blockchain Caucus Cointelegraph said in an interview that he hopes it will be used in the near future.
“I could certainly see that it will be used very soon in the next election cycles,” he said.
In addition, in September Soto announced the culmination of “nearly two years of pressure” on his colleagues on the Energy and Trade Committee: the Digital Taxonomy Act, which will lead to a study into the use of blockchain technology in government. Setting up an office in accordance with HR9067 would likely result in faster adoption and implementation of such technologies.
Soto’s endorsement for the cryptocurrency has been particularly strong lately. The Florida native was also among nine congressmen who fined the Treasury Department for having a little over two weeks to comment on a new crypto-surveillance rule. The rule has resulted in a call to the entire cryptocurrency community, and some have speculated that the Treasury Department may be brought to justice for violating the procedure.
