House Republicans release agenda for emerging tech

Key Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce committee introduced a raft of legislation Tuesday on emerging technologies.

Full committee ranking member Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and consumer protection subcommittee ranking member Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) unveiled a total of 15 bills, primarily focused on countering Chinese dominance in the tech sphere and boosting American companies.

“Now more than ever, we must create policies that ensure America beats China over the next decade and beyond by fostering innovation, securing supply chains, and protecting consumers,” the lawmakers said in a statement.

“These pillars of our legislative agenda unleash free-market ingenuity to spur American leadership and economic growth in the next generation of technology that will define our future,” they said.

The bills cover a wide range of tech issues, including developing standards for facial recognition and 3D printing, promoting the use of blockchain and producing advanced materials domestically.

They also target China with legislation that force American companies to make it public if they store data there.

The new package of bills was rolled out with only Republican backers, making progression through the Democrat controlled House unlikely.