Summary: House Resolution HRES 248

Overview

HRES 248 is a non-binding House Resolution introduced on March 25, 2025, aimed at emphasizing the importance and potential of distributed ledger technologies (DLT) to support democratic governance, human rights, internet freedom, transparency, sustainability, and humanitarian aid delivery. It urges several U.S. government agencies to explore and promote DLT applications and to engage with experts and partners to develop responsible policy frameworks.

• Bill Type: House Resolution (non-binding)
• Introduced: March 25, 2025
• Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; submitted in House on the same date
• Primary Sponsor: Gabe Amo (cosponsor: Young Kim)

Purpose and Intent

• To position DLT as a tool to strengthen democratic governance, protect human rights, enhance transparency, and support sustainable development and humanitarian aid.
• To promote the use of DLT as a means to combat censorship, support free information flow, and underpin democratic values and freedom of speech.

Key Provisions (Introduced Version)

1. Interagency Exploration and Support: Urges the Department of State, the Development Finance Corporation (DFC), USAID, and other U.S. government agencies to explore and support the development and application of distributed ledger technologies for:

   • Strengthening democratic governance
   • Promoting human rights
   • Enhancing transparency
   • Supporting sustainability efforts and humanitarian aid delivery

2. Promotion to Combat Censorship: Encourages leveraging DLT to combat censorship and ensure the free flow of information as fundamental to democracy and human rights.

3. Engagement with Stakeholders: Calls for deeper engagement with technology experts, civil society, and international partners to understand opportunities and practical applications of DLT, ensuring responsible and effective use.

4. Regulatory and Policy Leadership: Affirms United States leadership in developing a regulatory and policy framework that promotes ethical use of DLT, while advancing sustainability and addressing issues of accessibility and potential misuse by malign actors.

5. Research, Innovation, and Investment: Encourages further research, innovation, and investment in DLT that can contribute to the public good, strengthen democratic institutions, and safeguard the integrity of democratic processes.

Affected Parties and Context

• Agencies Involved: State Department, DFC, USAID, and other federal agencies.
• Stakeholders: Government policymakers, international partners, technology experts, civil society organizations, and the broader public interested in digital rights, governance, and democracy.

Legislative Actions and Timeline

• 2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-03-25: Submitted in the House.

Sponsors

• Primary Sponsor: Gabe Amo
• Cosponsor: Young Kim

Potential Impact and Considerations

• As a non-binding resolution, HRES 248 expresses the sense of Congress and directs attention and non-binding guidance to executive agencies rather than creating new laws or appropriations.
• It could influence interagency policy discussions, pilot projects, or partnerships related to DLT applications in governance, transparency, and human rights initiatives.
• The emphasis on ethical use, accessibility, sustainability, and the risk of misuse highlights the need for safeguards and risk mitigation in any subsequent regulatory or programmatic activity.

Notes

• No explicit funding, authorization, or regulatory powers are attached to this resolution; its impact rests on policy direction and interagency collaboration.