,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bcba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #be1 #bjbe,ms4 ,del,bene 7for herself and ,mr4 ,pfluger7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,immersive ,technology ,advisory ,panel to promote the use of immersive technology in the ,united ,states1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,united ,states ,leadership in ,immersive ,technology ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,immersive technology was included in the initial list of key technology focus areas in section #ajchg7;c7 of the ,research and ,development1 ,competition1 and ,innovation ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aiajg7;c77 because it is an important part of the integrated ecosystem of emerging technologies4 7#b7 ,immersive technology has been designated a critical technology by both the ,national ,science and ,technology ,council and the ,department of ,defense because of its importance to both economic competitiveness and national security4 7#c7 ,immersive technology1 which includes augmented reality1 virtual reality1 and mixed reality1 is widely expected to function as the next major computing platform4 7#d7 ,immersive technology will affect all sectors of society1 creating new employment opportunities1 new economic incentives1 and new ways of communicating1 learning1 and engaging with the world4 7#e7 ,immersive technology was invented in the ,united ,states1 and the ,united ,states is home to the leading companies in the industry4 7#f7 ,other countries1 including competitors of the ,united ,states1 such as the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 have recognized the transformative nature of immersive technology and are implementing robust strategies in a race to dominate the sector4 7#g7 ,it is in the best interests of the ,united ,states to lead the world in the use of immersive technology such that the next computing platform is imbued with the fundamental values of the ,united ,states4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,advisory ,panel ,the term ,advisory ,panel means the ,immersive ,technology ,advisory ,panel established by section #e7;a74 7#b7 ,agency ,the term agency has the meaning given that term in section #eea of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#c7 ,appropriate committees of ,congress defined ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#d7 ,augmented reality ,the term augmented reality means a changed version of reality created by overlaying digital information onto the view of the physical world through the use of a device4 7#e7 ,immersive technology ,the term immersive technology means technology that is deployed into interstate commerce and that integrates the physical environment with digital content to support user engagement1 including augmented reality1 mixed reality1 and virtual reality4 7#f7 ,mixed reality ,the term mixed reality means an immersive technology tool that blends augmented and virtual reality1 allowing users to experience simulated content within their physical worlds and to manipulate and interact with virtual elements in real time4 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,commerce4 7#h7 ,virtual reality ,the term virtual reality means an immersive technology tool that occludes the physical surroundings of a user and replaces it with a simulated virtual or digital environment4 #d4 ,principal advisor on immersive technology 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the appropriate committees of ,congress1 shall designate a principal advisor on immersive technology4 7b7 ,responsibilities ,the principal advisor on immersive technology shall-- 7#a7 support and promote the improvement1 deployment1 and security of recommendations on the use of immersive technology in the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 consider policies and programs to encourage and improve coordination among agencies with respect to immersive technology4 #e4 ,immersive ,technology ,advisory ,panel 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish the ,immersive ,technology ,advisory ,panel to make recommendations on the use of immersive technology in the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,chairperson ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the appropriate committees of ,congress1 shall appoint a chairperson of the ,advisory ,panel4 7c7 ,membership ,the ,advisory ,panel shall consist of the following members3 7#a7 ,the ,chairperson1 appointed under subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,a ,vice ,chair1 who shall be selected by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the appropriate committees of ,congress1 from among the members listed in paragraph 7#c74 7#c7 ,each of the following 7or their designee73 7,a7 ,the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy4 7,b7 ,the ,secretary of ,defense4 7,c7 ,the ,secretary of ,energy4 7,d7 ,the ,secretary of ,state4 7,e7 ,the ,secretary of ,labor4 7,f7 ,the ,secretary of ,education4 7,g7 ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7,h7 ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4 7,i7 ,the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7,j7 ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7#d7 ,not fewer than #f and not more than #aj experts appointed by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the appropriate committees of ,congress1 from among the following3 7,a7 ,academic institutions4 7,b7 ,think tanks4 7,c7 ,private sector technology firms4 7,d7 ,civil society1 with respect to expertise in the impact of immersive technology on consumers4 7,e7 ,any other sector as the ,secretary1 in consultation with the appropriate committees of ,congress1 determines appropriate4 7d7 ,objectives ,the ,advisory ,panel shall-- 7#a7 assess the economic impact of immersive technology2 and 7#b7 make recommendations on-- 7,a7 the manner by which immersive technology can be used to ensure the economic competitiveness of the ,united ,states2 7,b7 institutional processes that promote collaboration between the ,federal ,government and the private sector on matters relating to immersive technology1 including-- 7i7 technical standards2 7ii7 strategic investments2 7iii7 cybersecurity2 and 7iv7 commercialization2 7,c7 safeguards that are necessary to ensure that immersive technology is used ethically to protect individual data and privacy2 and 7,d7 the manner by which the ,federal ,government can provide global leadership in immersive technology and collaborate with allied nations4 7e7 ,meetings ,the ,advisory ,panel shall meet not less frequently than once every #d months4 7f7 ,administrative and technical support ,the ,secretary shall provide to the ,advisory ,panel administrative and technical support4 #f4 ,study and report on immersive technology 7a7 ,study 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,advisory ,panel shall complete a study on the state of the immersive technology industry and the effect of such industry on the economic competitiveness and national security of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,requirements ,in conducting the study required by paragraph 7#a71 the ,advisory ,panel shall-- 7,a7 assess the role of immersive technology in the broader emerging technology ecosystem and the manner in which the ,united ,states can make strategic investments that support the key technology focus areas identified in section #ajchg7;c7 of the ,research and ,development1 ,competition1 and ,innovation ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aiajg7;c772 7,b7 examine the economic impact of the use of immersive technology across key sectors1 including manufacturing1 energy1 public safety1 health care1 urban planning1 construction1 automotive1 agriculture1 workforce development1 retail1 education1 and entertainment2 7,c7 assess the ways in which immersive technology benefits businesses 7including small- and medium-sized businesses71 including-- 7i7 by facilitating the delivery of essential human services2 and 7ii7 by supporting workforce development in critical sectors2 7,d7 determine the investment and personnel needed for the timely and successful deployment of immersive technology that ensures the global leadership of the ,united ,states2 7,e7 identify any voluntary standard or best practice needed to ensure that immersive technology is designed and deployed in a manner that-- 7i7 facilitates ease of use2 and 7ii7 protects individual rights1 including with respect to-- 7,i7 privacy2 7,,ii7 accessibility2 7,,iii7 digital identity2 and 7,,iv7 intellectual property2 7,f7 assess the national and economic security benefits and risks associated with immersive technology and the ways in which the benefits can be maximized and the risks mitigated2 and 7,g7 address the objectives described in section #e7;d74 7b7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date on which the study is completed under subsection 7a77#a71 the ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report on-- 7,a7 the findings of the study2 and 7,b7 recommendations based on the findings of the study for congressional action4 7#b7 ,publication ,the ,secretary shall publish the report required by paragraph 7#a7 on a publicly accessible website of the ,white ,house4