Consumer Safety Technology Act
Latest action (23 Jun 2021): Pursuant to section 11 of H. Res. 486, and the motion offered by Mr. McGovern, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 482; H.R. 704; H.R. 961, as amended; H.R. 1314; H.R. 2571, as amended; H.R. 2679, as amended; H.R. 2694; H.R. 2922, as amended; H.R. 3182; H.R. 3239; H.R. 3241, as amended; H.R. 3723; H.R. 3752; H.R. 3841; S. 409; and S. 1340.
What this bill does
H.R. 3723, the Consumer Safety Technology Act, directs several federal agencies to study and report on emerging technologies. It requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish, within one year, a pilot program exploring artificial intelligence for purposes such as tracking product-related injuries, identifying hazards, monitoring retail markets for recalled products, and flagging products barred from importation; the Commission must consult with technology, cybersecurity, retail, and consumer safety experts and report findings to Congress. Separately, it directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Federal Trade Commission, to study blockchain technology's use in commerce and consumer protection and report results. It also requires the FTC to submit annual reports through fiscal year 2024 on enforcement actions and recommendations concerning unfair or deceptive practices involving digital tokens.
The bill primarily affects federal agencies—the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Department of Commerce, and the Federal Trade Commission—by imposing new study, pilot-program, and reporting requirements. Indirectly, it could affect retailers, manufacturers, and companies involved in blockchain and digital token markets, as agencies gather input and data related to these sectors. Consumers are affected only indirectly, through potential future improvements in product safety monitoring or consumer protection policy stemming from these studies.
The bill passed the House on June 23, 2021, under a suspension of the rules vote alongside numerous other bills, but was never taken up or passed by the Senate. As a result, it did not become law during the 117th Congress. Further action would require reintroduction and passage in a subsequent Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official 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).
Timeline
23 Jun 2021
Pursuant to section 11 of H. Res. 486, and the motion offered by Mr. McGovern, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 482; H.R. 704; H.R. 961, as amended; H.R. 1314; H.R. 2571, as amended; H.R. 2679, as amended; H.R. 2694; H.R. 2922, as amended; H.R. 3182; H.R. 3239; H.R. 3241, as amended; H.R. 3723; H.R. 3752; H.R. 3841; S. 409; and S. 1340.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 3723 do?
- H.R. 3723, the Consumer Safety Technology Act, directs several federal agencies to study and report on emerging technologies. It requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish, within one year, a pilot program exploring artificial intelligence for purposes such as tracking product-related injuries, identifying hazards, monitoring retail markets for recalled products, and flagging products barred from importation; the Commission must consult with technology, cybersecurity, retail, and consumer safety experts and report findings to Congress. Separately, it directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Federal Trade Commission, to study blockchain technology's use in commerce and consumer protection and report results. It also requires the FTC to submit annual reports through fiscal year 2024 on enforcement actions and recommendations concerning unfair or deceptive practices involving digital tokens. The bill primarily affects federal agencies—the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Department of Commerce, and the Federal Trade Commission—by imposing new study, pilot-program, and reporting requirements. Indirectly, it could affect retailers, manufacturers, and companies involved in blockchain and digital token markets, as agencies gather input and data related to these sectors. Consumers are affected only indirectly, through potential future improvements in product safety monitoring or consumer protection policy stemming from these studies. The bill passed the House on June 23, 2021, under a suspension of the rules vote alongside numerous other bills, but was never taken up or passed by the Senate. As a result, it did not become law during the 117th Congress. Further action would require reintroduction and passage in a subsequent Congress.
- Has H.R. 3723 become law?
- Not yet. As of 23 Jun 2021, H.R. 3723 is passed house (senate next).
- Who sponsored H.R. 3723?
- H.R. 3723 was sponsored by Rep. Jerry McNerney [D-CA9, 2013-2022] (Democrat-CA), with 5 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 3723?
- Pursuant to section 11 of H. Res. 486, and the motion offered by Mr. McGovern, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 482; H.R. 704; H.R. 961, as amended; H.R. 1314; H.R. 2571, as amended; H.R. 2679, as amended; H.R. 2694; H.R. 2922, as amended; H.R. 3182; H.R. 3239; H.R. 3241, as amended; H.R. 3723; H.R. 3752; H.R. 3841; S. 409; and S. 1340. (23 Jun 2021).
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