Consumer Safety Technology Act
Bill: H.R.3723 | Sponsor: Rep. McNerney, Jerry (D-CA)
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
Consumer Safety Technology Act  This bill requires various agencies to explore the use of emerging technologies in the context of consumer products and safety. First, the Consumer Product Safety Commission must consult with relevant stakeholders, such as data scientists and product manufacturers, and use artificial intelligence in a pilot program for a least one of the following processes: (1) tracking trends in injuries involving consumer products, (2) identifying consumer product hazards, (3) monitoring the sale of recalled consumer products, or (4) identifying consumer products that do not meet specified importation requirements related to product safety.
Additionally, the Department of Commerce must consult with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other relevant agencies to study potential applications of blockchain technology (i.e., the technology that supports digital currencies such as Bitcoin), including the use of such technology to address fraud and other unfair or deceptive practices.
Finally, the FTC must report on its efforts to address unfair or deceptive trade practices related to digital tokens (i.e., transferable units of a digital currency).

To direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish a pilot 
program to explore the use of artificial intelligence in support of the 
mission of the Commission and direct the Secretary of Commerce and the 
 Federal Trade Commission to study and report on the use of blockchain 
              technology and digital tokens, respectively.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Consumer Safety 
Technology Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
      TITLE I--ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Pilot program for use of artificial intelligence by Consumer 
                            Product Safety Commission.
               TITLE II--BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Study on blockchain technology and its use in consumer 
                            protection.
                   TITLE III--DIGITAL TOKEN TAXONOMY

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Findings.
Sec. 303. Reports on unfair or deceptive acts or practices in 
                            transactions relating to digital tokens.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the term ``consumer product'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 3(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act 
        (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)); and
            (2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce.

      TITLE I--ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``AI for Consumer Product Safety 
Act''.

SEC. 102. PILOT PROGRAM FOR USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BY CONSUMER 
              PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall 
establish a pilot program to explore the use of artificial intelligence 
by the Commission in support of the consumer product safety mission of 
the Commission.
    (b) Requirements.--In conducting the pilot program established 
under subsection (a), the Commission shall do the following:
            (1) Use artificial intelligence for at least 1 of the 
        following purposes:
                    (A) Tracking trends with respect to injuries 
                involving consumer products.
                    (B) Identifying consumer product hazards.
                    (C) Monitoring the retail marketplace (including 
                internet websites) for the sale of recalled consumer 
                products (including both new and used products).
                    (D) Identifying consumer products required by 
                section 17(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 
                U.S.C. 2066(a)) to be refused admission into the 
                customs territory of the United States.
            (2) Consult with the following:
                    (A) Technologists, data scientists, and experts in 
                artificial intelligence and machine learning.
                    (B) Cybersecurity experts.
                    (C) Members of the retail industry.
                    (D) Consumer product manufacturers.
                    (E) Consumer product safety organizations.
                    (F) Any other person the Commission considers 
                appropriate.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the 
conclusion of the pilot program established under subsection (a), the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission shall submit to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make 
publicly available on the website of the Commission, a report on the 
findings and data derived from such program, including whether and the 
extent to which the use of artificial intelligence improved the ability 
of the Commission to advance the consumer product safety mission of the 
Commission.

               TITLE II--BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Blockchain Innovation Act''.

SEC. 202. STUDY ON BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND ITS USE IN CONSUMER 
              PROTECTION.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Study required.--Not later than one year after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in 
        consultation with the Federal Trade Commission, and in 
        consultation with the any other appropriate Federal agency the 
        Secretary determines appropriate, shall conduct a study on 
        current and potential use of blockchain technology in commerce 
        and the potential benefits of blockchain technology for 
        limiting fraud and other unfair and deceptive acts and 
        practices.
            (2) Requirements for study.--In conducting the study, the 
        Secretary shall examine--
                    (A) trends in the commercial use of and investment 
                in blockchain technology;
                    (B) best practices in facilitating public-private 
                partnerships in blockchain technology;
                    (C) potential benefits and risks of blockchain 
                technology for consumer protection;
                    (D) how blockchain technology can be used by 
                industry and consumers to reduce fraud and increase the 
                security of commercial transactions;
                    (E) areas in Federal regulation of blockchain 
                technology that greater clarity would encourage 
                domestic innovation; and
                    (F) any other relevant observations or 
                recommendations related to blockchain technology and 
                consumer protection.
            (3) Public comment.--In producing the study required in 
        subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall provide opportunity for 
        public comment and advice relevant to the production of the 
        study.
    (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 6 months after the 
completion of the study required pursuant to subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly available on the 
website of the Department of Commerce, a report that contains the 
results of the study conducted under subsection (a).

                   TITLE III--DIGITAL TOKEN TAXONOMY

SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Digital Taxonomy Act''.

SEC. 302. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) it is important that the United States remains a leader 
        in innovation;
            (2) digital tokens and blockchain technology are driving 
        innovation and providing consumers with increased choice and 
        convenience;
            (3) the use of digital tokens and blockchain technology is 
        likely to increase in the future;
            (4) the Federal Trade Commission is responsible for 
        protecting consumers from unfair or deceptive acts or 
        practices, including relating to digital tokens;
            (5) the Commission has previously taken action against 
        unscrupulous companies and individuals that committed unfair or 
        deceptive acts or practices involving digital tokens; and
            (6) to bolster the Commission's ability to enforce against 
        unfair or deceptive acts or practices involving digital tokens, 
        the Commission should ensure staff have appropriate training 
        and resources to identify and pursue such cases.

SEC. 303. REPORTS ON UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRACTICES IN 
              TRANSACTIONS RELATING TO DIGITAL TOKENS.

    Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act and 
each year thereafter until fiscal year 2024, the Federal Trade 
Commission shall transmit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly available on its 
website, a report of--
            (1) any actions taken by the Commission relating to unfair 
        or deceptive acts or practices in transactions relating to 
        digital tokens;
            (2) the Commission's other efforts to prevent unfair or 
        deceptive acts or practices relating to digital tokens; and
            (3) any recommendations by the Commission for legislation 
        that would improve the ability of the Commission and other 
        relevant Federal agencies--
                    (A) to further protect consumers from unfair or 
                deceptive acts or practices in the digital token 
                marketplace; and
                    (B) to promote competition and promote innovation 
                in the global digital token sector.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 23, 2021.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.