Blockchain Promotion Act of 2019

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 373.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 25 · Reported to Senate · Dec 17, 2019

Blockchain Promotion Act of 2019

This bill directs the Department of Commerce to establish the Blockchain Working Group to submit a report to Congress which contains a recommended definition of the distributed ledger technology commonly referred to as blockchain technology, and other specified recommendations regarding this technology.

Members of the working group shall serve without receiving any pay.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] · R–IN

Committees

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Dec 17, 2019
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 373.
Dec 17, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with amendments. With written report No. 116-177.
Dec 17, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker with amendments. With written report No. 116-177.
Jul 10, 2019
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Feb 26, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Feb 26, 2019
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Reported to Senate · Dec 17, 2019 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Introduced in Senate · Feb 26, 2019 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Objective

Analyze S.553 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.553, 116th Congress: Blockchain Promotion Act of 2019

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/553

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2019-12-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s553/BILLS-116s553rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.553 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.553 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.553, 116th Congress: Blockchain Promotion Act of 2019

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/553

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2019-12-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s553/BILLS-116s553rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.553 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.553 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.553, 116th Congress: Blockchain Promotion Act of 2019

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/553

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2019-12-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s553/BILLS-116s553rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.553 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.553 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.553, 116th Congress: Blockchain Promotion Act of 2019

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/553

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2019-12-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s553/BILLS-116s553rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.553 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.