Emphasizing the importance and power of distributed ledger technologies (DLT) to support democratic governance, human rights, internet freedom, and transparency.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 248
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-13T17:57:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 248) highlights the value of distributed ledger technologies (DLT)—digital systems like blockchain that record information across multiple computers in a secure, tamper-resistant way—for advancing democratic governance, human rights, internet freedom, and transparency. It aims to encourage U.S. government agencies to explore and promote DLT's applications in these areas without creating new laws.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes several non-binding recommendations in its "Resolved" section:
- Urges U.S. agencies such as the Department of State, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to investigate and back DLT uses that bolster democracy, human rights, transparency, sustainability, and efficient humanitarian aid delivery (e.g., direct cash transfers with fewer middlemen).
- Encourages promotion of DLT to fight censorship by enabling decentralized platforms that protect free speech and access to information, helping people in restrictive environments share ideas and bypass controls.
- Calls for collaboration between the U.S. government, technology specialists, civil society groups, and global partners to identify practical DLT applications and ensure responsible implementation.
- Affirms U.S. leadership in creating supportive policies and regulations that promote ethical DLT use, while tackling issues like accessibility, privacy risks, and potential abuse by harmful actors.
- Supports further investment in DLT research and innovation to benefit public services, strengthen democratic systems, and maintain fair processes.
The resolution is built on "Whereas" clauses that outline DLT's benefits, such as secure identity verification, anti-corruption tools, misinformation countermeasures, and resilient systems that avoid single failure points during disruptions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a resolution, not a law, so it introduces no binding changes to current U.S. statutes or regulations. It serves as a formal expression of the House of Representatives' views to guide future policy discussions and agency actions, without legal enforcement.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: May prompt the State Department, USAID, and DFC to integrate DLT into programs for foreign aid, democracy support, and digital rights, potentially improving efficiency in aid distribution and governance tools.
- On citizens: Could enhance global access to secure services like digital identities, land rights, and transparent transactions, reducing corruption and empowering individuals in authoritarian regimes through better information flow and free expression.
- On international relations: Positions the U.S. as a leader in tech-driven democracy promotion, fostering partnerships with allies on digital rights and sustainability, while countering adversarial influences like censorship or misinformation abroad.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. government agencies: Including the Department of State, USAID, and DFC, which are directly urged to adopt DLT strategies.
- Technology and DLT communities: Developers, experts, and innovators who stand to gain from increased research funding and policy support.
- Civil society and international partners: Nonprofits, activists, and foreign governments focused on human rights, democracy, and humanitarian aid.
- Global citizens: Particularly those in regions facing censorship, corruption, or inefficient services, who could benefit from DLT-enabled tools for rights protection and aid access.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Non-binding nature means no enforceable obligations, but it could influence executive branch priorities and future legislation on tech regulation, emphasizing ethical guidelines to balance innovation with privacy and security.
- Constitutional: Aligns with First Amendment values by promoting free speech and information access via technology, without altering core protections.
- Political: Signals bipartisan interest (introduced by Representatives Amo and Kim) in leveraging U.S. tech leadership for soft power abroad, potentially shaping foreign policy debates on digital governance and countering geopolitical rivals' tech dominance, while highlighting the need for frameworks to prevent misuse.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-03-25: Submitted in House
- 2025-03-25: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Emphasizing the importance and power of distributed ledger technologies (DLT) to support democratic governance, human rights, internet freedom, and transparency. — issued 2025-03-25 — PDF (4 pages)