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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) this week joined with his colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee in introducing two bills to ensure American leadership in emergency technology: The Advancing Blockchain Act and the Countering Online Harms Act.

Guthrie serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

“The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has made it clear that we need to maintain American leadership in technology,” said Guthrie. “America is a nation of innovation and enterprise – and we need to keep it that way. We cannot let China beat us. I was proud to join my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to introduce a full package of bills to ensure our continued leadership in technology.”

The Advancing Blockchain Act will promote the use of blockchain technology in our economy. The Countering Online Harms Act will assess how we can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to fight online misinformation, illegal content, and other dangerous content.

“Blockchain technology can be used for cryptocurrency, but it also has many other potential applications, and the Advancing Blockchain Act will allow us to explore these uses to improve our technology,” said Guthrie. “The Countering Online Harms Act will help us use AI for good. Often, AI is associated with its potential for fraud and hacking, but the Countering Online Harms Act will help us better understand the extent of these problems and how we can counteract them so we can move forward with the development of beneficial new technology.”

The Advancing Blockchain Act and the Countering Online Harms Act were introduced alongside several emerging technology bills in a package with the Energy and Commerce Committee. The full list of bills can be found here.

“Emerging technologies will define America’s future. We must lead to develop and adopt these technologies to not only take advantage of their tremendous benefits, but also to maintain our national and economic security as other countries like China try to beat us over the next decade. I thank Rep. Guthrie for his leadership in this subcommittee agenda that will help our nation foster innovation, secure supply chains, and protect American consumers,” Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) said.

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