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Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) and members of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus sent a letter to President Trump and federal regulators encouraging the use of blockchain solutions to respond to and mitigate the Coronavirus outbreak. 

The letter urged federal agencies to consider various implementations of blockchain technology as a resource to combat the effects of the Coronavirus. Blockchain could assist with identity protection and identification, securing supply chains, and authenticating registries, among other use cases.

"Federal regulators should be considering new and innovative technologies to respond to this outbreak and reduce its spread. This year, we’ve faced unprecedented challenges. Federal regulators must be willing to shed the bureaucracy and implement new solutions,” said Emmer. “This outbreak is an opportunity for us to retool and focus on building stronger processes to better protect the American people from the challenges we face." 

Specifically, the use of blockchain could be used to authenticate an individual’s identity to receive necessary funding or supplies. It could also be used to secure our supply chains, and help identify where supplies originate, arrival times, and inventories. Finally, blockchains can host registries for medical professionals who are desperately needed in times of crisis.

"Congressman Emmer and the Members of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus who supported this letter are leaders in understanding just how important this technology can be, including in fundamental supply chain systems. The United States should work with experts in government and industry to ensure we are prepared to support our nation in times of crisis. We’ve spearheaded many technological innovations in the U.S. that have transformed the way we interact and transact together – we support these Members in taking the necessary steps to ensure that the United States leads in the development of blockchain technology too.” said Amy Davine Kim, Chief Policy Officer for the Chamber of Digital Commerce. 

Congressman Emmer and the Co-Chairs of the Blockchain Caucus, Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL), David Schweikert (R-AZ), and Darren Soto (D-FL) led the letter. They were joined by fellow Caucus Members Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and Ro Khanna (D-CA).

Read the letter here

Congressman Emmer is also the author of the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act and cosponsor of the Advancing Innovation to Assist Law Enforcement Act, which would analyze the use of blockchain technologies to track financial crimes. You can read more about Congressman Emmer’s work on broadband, blockchain, and emerging technology here.

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