II 

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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States Leader5 ship in Immersive Technology Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) Immersive technology was included in the 

9 initial list of key technology focus areas in section 

10 10387(c) of the Research and Development, ComVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:43 Jan 09, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S5473.IS S5473

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1 petition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19107(c)) 

2 because it is an important part of the integrated 

3 ecosystem of emerging technologies. 

4 (2) Immersive technology has been designated a 

5 critical technology by both the National Science and 

6 Technology Council and the Department of Defense 

7 because of its importance to both economic competi8 tiveness and national security. 

9 (3) Immersive technology, which includes aug10 mented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality, is 

11 widely expected to function as the next major com12 puting platform. 

13 (4) Immersive technology will affect all sectors 

14 of society, creating new employment opportunities, 

15 new economic incentives, and new ways of commu16 nicating, learning, and engaging with the world. 

17 (5) Immersive technology was invented in the 

18 United States, and the United States is home to the 

19 leading companies in the industry. 

20 (6) Other countries, including competitors of 

21 the United States, such as the People’s Republic of 

22 China, have recognized the transformative nature of 

23 immersive technology and are implementing robust 

24 strategies in a race to dominate the sector. 


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1 (7) It is in the best interests of the United 

2 States to lead the world in the use of immersive 

3 technology such that the next computing platform is 

4 imbued with the fundamental values of the United 

5 States. 

6 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) ADVISORY PANEL.—The term ‘‘Advisory 

9 Panel’’ means the Immersive Technology Advisory 

10 Panel established by section 5(a). 

11 (2) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the 

12 meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, 

13 United States Code. 

14 (3) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS

15 DEFINED.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of 

16 Congress’’ means— 

17 (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

18 and Transportation of the Senate; and 

19 (B) the Committee on Energy and Com20 merce of the House of Representatives. 

21 (4) AUGMENTED REALITY.—The term ‘‘aug22 mented reality’’ means a changed version of reality 

23 created by overlaying digital information onto the 

24 view of the physical world through the use of a de25 vice. 


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1 (5) IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY.—The term 

2 ‘‘immersive technology’’ means technology that is de3 ployed into interstate commerce and that integrates 

4 the physical environment with digital content to sup5 port user engagement, including augmented reality, 

6 mixed reality, and virtual reality. 

7 (6) MIXED REALITY.—The term ‘‘mixed re8 ality’’ means an immersive technology tool that 

9 blends augmented and virtual reality, allowing users 

10 to experience simulated content within their physical 

11 worlds and to manipulate and interact with virtual 

12 elements in real time. 

13 (7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

14 the Secretary of Commerce. 

15 (8) VIRTUAL REALITY.—The term ‘‘virtual re16 ality’’ means an immersive technology tool that oc17 cludes the physical surroundings of a user and re18 places it with a simulated virtual or digital environ19 ment. 

20 SEC. 4. PRINCIPAL ADVISOR ON IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation 

22 with the appropriate committees of Congress, shall des23 ignate a principal advisor on immersive technology. 

24 (b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The principal advisor on 

25 immersive technology shall— 


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1 (1) support and promote the development, im2 provement, deployment, and security of rec3 ommendations on the development and use of 

4 immersive technology in the United States; and 

5 (2) consider policies and programs to encourage 

6 and improve coordination among agencies with re7 spect to immersive technology. 

8 SEC. 5. IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY PANEL. 

9 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

10 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

11 establish the Immersive Technology Advisory Panel to 

12 make recommendations on the use of immersive tech13 nology in the United States. 

14 (b) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary, in consultation 

15 with the appropriate committees of Congress, shall ap16 point a chairperson of the Advisory Panel. 

17 (c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Panel shall consist 

18 of the following members: 

19 (1) The Chairperson, appointed under sub20 section (b). 

21 (2) A Vice Chair, who shall be selected by the 

22 Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate com23 mittees of Congress, from among the members listed 

24 in paragraph (3). 

25 (3) Each of the following (or their designee): 


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1 (A) The Director of the Office of Science 

2 and Technology Policy. 

3 (B) The Secretary of Defense. 

4 (C) The Secretary of Energy. 

5 (D) The Secretary of State. 

6 (E) The Secretary of Labor. 

7 (F) The Secretary of Education. 

8 (G) The Secretary of Health and Human 

9 Services. 

10 (H) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

11 (I) The Secretary of Transportation. 

12 (J) The Secretary of Agriculture. 

13 (4) Not fewer than 6 and not more than 10 ex14 perts appointed by the Secretary, in consultation 

15 with the appropriate committees of Congress, from 

16 among the following: 

17 (A) Academic institutions. 

18 (B) Think tanks. 

19 (C) Private sector technology firms. 

20 (D) Civil society, with respect to expertise 

21 in the impact of immersive technology on con22 sumers. 

23 (E) Any other sector as the Secretary, in 

24 consultation with the appropriate committees of 

25 Congress, determines appropriate. 


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1 (d) OBJECTIVES.—The Advisory Panel shall— 

2 (1) assess the economic impact of immersive 

3 technology; and 

4 (2) make recommendations on— 

5 (A) the manner by which immersive tech6 nology can be used to ensure the economic com7 petitiveness of the United States; 

8 (B) institutional processes that promote 

9 collaboration between the Federal Government 

10 and the private sector on matters relating to 

11 immersive technology, including— 

12 (i) technical standards; 

13 (ii) strategic investments; 

14 (iii) cybersecurity; and 

15 (iv) commercialization; 

16 (C) safeguards that are necessary to en17 sure that immersive technology is used ethically 

18 to protect individual data and privacy; and 

19 (D) the manner by which the Federal Gov20 ernment can provide global leadership in 

21 immersive technology and collaborate with allied 

22 nations. 

23 (e) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Panel shall meet not 

24 less frequently than once every 4 months. 


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1 (f) ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT.— 

2 The Secretary shall provide to the Advisory Panel admin3 istrative and technical support. 

4 SEC. 6. STUDY AND REPORT ON IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY. 

5 (a) STUDY.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 

7 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Advisory 

8 Panel shall complete a study on the state of the 

9 immersive technology industry and the effect of such 

10 industry on the economic competitiveness and na11 tional security of the United States. 

12 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—In conducting the study 

13 required by paragraph (1), the Advisory Panel 

14 shall— 

15 (A) assess the role of immersive technology 

16 in the broader emerging technology ecosystem 

17 and the manner in which the United States can 

18 make strategic investments that support the 

19 key technology focus areas identified in section 

20 10387(c) of the Research and Development, 

21 Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 

22 19107(c)); 

23 (B) examine the economic impact of the 

24 use of immersive technology across key sectors, 

25 including manufacturing, energy, public safety, 


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1 health care, urban planning, construction, auto2 motive, agriculture, workforce development, re3 tail, education, and entertainment; 

4 (C) assess the ways in which immersive 

5 technology benefits businesses (including small6 and medium-sized businesses), including— 

7 (i) by facilitating the delivery of es8 sential human services; and 

9 (ii) by supporting workforce develop10 ment in critical sectors; 

11 (D) determine the investment and per12 sonnel needed for the timely and successful de13 ployment of immersive technology that ensures 

14 the global leadership of the United States; 

15 (E) identify any voluntary standard or best 

16 practice needed to ensure that immersive tech17 nology is designed, developed, and deployed in 

18 a manner that— 

19 (i) facilitates ease of use; and 

20 (ii) protects individual rights, includ21 ing with respect to— 

22 (I) privacy; 

23 (II) accessibility; 

24 (III) digital identity; and 

25 (IV) intellectual property; 


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1 (F) assess the national and economic secu2 rity benefits and risks associated with 

3 immersive technology and the ways in which the 

4 benefits can be maximized and the risks miti5 gated; and 

6 (G) address the objectives described in sec7 tion 5(d). 

8 (b) REPORT.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

10 the date on which the study is completed under sub11 section (a)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the ap12 propriate committees of Congress a report on— 

13 (A) the findings of the study; and 

14 (B) recommendations based on the find15 ings of the study for congressional action. 

16 (2) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall publish 

17 the report required by paragraph (1) on a publicly 

18 accessible website of the White House. 

Æ 


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