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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5473 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5473

To establish the Immersive Technology Advisory Panel to promote the use 
 of immersive technology in the United States, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 11, 2024

Mrs. Blackburn introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To establish the Immersive Technology Advisory Panel to promote the use 
 of immersive technology in the United States, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``United States Leadership in 
Immersive Technology Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Immersive technology was included in the initial list 
        of key technology focus areas in section 10387(c) of the 
        Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 
        U.S.C. 19107(c)) because it is an important part of the 
        integrated ecosystem of emerging technologies.
            (2) Immersive technology has been designated a critical 
        technology by both the National Science and Technology Council 
        and the Department of Defense because of its importance to both 
        economic competitiveness and national security.
            (3) Immersive technology, which includes augmented reality, 
        virtual reality, and mixed reality, is widely expected to 
        function as the next major computing platform.
            (4) Immersive technology will affect all sectors of 
        society, creating new employment opportunities, new economic 
        incentives, and new ways of communicating, learning, and 
        engaging with the world.
            (5) Immersive technology was invented in the United States, 
        and the United States is home to the leading companies in the 
        industry.
            (6) Other countries, including competitors of the United 
        States, such as the People's Republic of China, have recognized 
        the transformative nature of immersive technology and are 
        implementing robust strategies in a race to dominate the 
        sector.
            (7) It is in the best interests of the United States to 
        lead the world in the use of immersive technology such that the 
        next computing platform is imbued with the fundamental values 
        of the United States.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Advisory panel.--The term ``Advisory Panel'' means the 
        Immersive Technology Advisory Panel established by section 
        5(a).
            (2) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
            (3) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
                House of Representatives.
            (4) Augmented reality.--The term ``augmented reality'' 
        means a changed version of reality created by overlaying 
        digital information onto the view of the physical world through 
        the use of a device.
            (5) Immersive technology.--The term ``immersive 
        technology'' means technology that is deployed into interstate 
        commerce and that integrates the physical environment with 
        digital content to support user engagement, including augmented 
        reality, mixed reality, and virtual reality.
            (6) Mixed reality.--The term ``mixed reality'' means an 
        immersive technology tool that blends augmented and virtual 
        reality, allowing users to experience simulated content within 
        their physical worlds and to manipulate and interact with 
        virtual elements in real time.
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce.
            (8) Virtual reality.--The term ``virtual reality'' means an 
        immersive technology tool that occludes the physical 
        surroundings of a user and replaces it with a simulated virtual 
        or digital environment.

SEC. 4. PRINCIPAL ADVISOR ON IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
appropriate committees of Congress, shall designate a principal advisor 
on immersive technology.
    (b) Responsibilities.--The principal advisor on immersive 
technology shall--
            (1) support and promote the development, improvement, 
        deployment, and security of recommendations on the development 
        and use of immersive technology in the United States; and
            (2) consider policies and programs to encourage and improve 
        coordination among agencies with respect to immersive 
        technology.

SEC. 5. IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY PANEL.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish the Immersive 
Technology Advisory Panel to make recommendations on the use of 
immersive technology in the United States.
    (b) Chairperson.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
appropriate committees of Congress, shall appoint a chairperson of the 
Advisory Panel.
    (c) Membership.--The Advisory Panel shall consist of the following 
members:
            (1) The Chairperson, appointed under subsection (b).
            (2) A Vice Chair, who shall be selected by the Secretary, 
        in consultation with the appropriate committees of Congress, 
        from among the members listed in paragraph (3).
            (3) Each of the following (or their designee):
                    (A) The Director of the Office of Science and 
                Technology Policy.
                    (B) The Secretary of Defense.
                    (C) The Secretary of Energy.
                    (D) The Secretary of State.
                    (E) The Secretary of Labor.
                    (F) The Secretary of Education.
                    (G) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
                    (H) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
                    (I) The Secretary of Transportation.
                    (J) The Secretary of Agriculture.
            (4) Not fewer than 6 and not more than 10 experts appointed 
        by the Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate 
        committees of Congress, from among the following:
                    (A) Academic institutions.
                    (B) Think tanks.
                    (C) Private sector technology firms.
                    (D) Civil society, with respect to expertise in the 
                impact of immersive technology on consumers.
                    (E) Any other sector as the Secretary, in 
                consultation with the appropriate committees of 
                Congress, determines appropriate.
    (d) Objectives.--The Advisory Panel shall--
            (1) assess the economic impact of immersive technology; and
            (2) make recommendations on--
                    (A) the manner by which immersive technology can be 
                used to ensure the economic competitiveness of the 
                United States;
                    (B) institutional processes that promote 
                collaboration between the Federal Government and the 
                private sector on matters relating to immersive 
                technology, including--
                            (i) technical standards;
                            (ii) strategic investments;
                            (iii) cybersecurity; and
                            (iv) commercialization;
                    (C) safeguards that are necessary to ensure that 
                immersive technology is used ethically to protect 
                individual data and privacy; and
                    (D) the manner by which the Federal Government can 
                provide global leadership in immersive technology and 
                collaborate with allied nations.
    (e) Meetings.--The Advisory Panel shall meet not less frequently 
than once every 4 months.
    (f) Administrative and Technical Support.--The Secretary shall 
provide to the Advisory Panel administrative and technical support.

SEC. 6. STUDY AND REPORT ON IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Advisory Panel shall complete a 
        study on the state of the immersive technology industry and the 
        effect of such industry on the economic competitiveness and 
        national security of the United States.
            (2) Requirements.--In conducting the study required by 
        paragraph (1), the Advisory Panel shall--
                    (A) assess the role of immersive technology in the 
                broader emerging technology ecosystem and the manner in 
                which the United States can make strategic investments 
                that support the key technology focus areas identified 
                in section 10387(c) of the Research and Development, 
                Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19107(c));
                    (B) examine the economic impact of the use of 
                immersive technology across key sectors, including 
                manufacturing, energy, public safety, health care, 
                urban planning, construction, automotive, agriculture, 
                workforce development, retail, education, and 
                entertainment;
                    (C) assess the ways in which immersive technology 
                benefits businesses (including small- and medium-sized 
                businesses), including--
                            (i) by facilitating the delivery of 
                        essential human services; and
                            (ii) by supporting workforce development in 
                        critical sectors;
                    (D) determine the investment and personnel needed 
                for the timely and successful deployment of immersive 
                technology that ensures the global leadership of the 
                United States;
                    (E) identify any voluntary standard or best 
                practice needed to ensure that immersive technology is 
                designed, developed, and deployed in a manner that--
                            (i) facilitates ease of use; and
                            (ii) protects individual rights, including 
                        with respect to--
                                    (I) privacy;
                                    (II) accessibility;
                                    (III) digital identity; and
                                    (IV) intellectual property;
                    (F) assess the national and economic security 
                benefits and risks associated with immersive technology 
                and the ways in which the benefits can be maximized and 
                the risks mitigated; and
                    (G) address the objectives described in section 
                5(d).
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date on 
        which the study is completed under subsection (a)(1), the 
        Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress a report on--
                    (A) the findings of the study; and
                    (B) recommendations based on the findings of the 
                study for congressional action.
            (2) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the report 
        required by paragraph (1) on a publicly accessible website of 
        the White House.
                                 <all>
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