House votes to block Federal Reserve from creating own digital currency

The bill was led by GOP Rep. Tom Emmer

[video_shortcode_video_embed src="https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/video-embed.html?video_id=6353390148112&d=video.foxbusiness.com" itemprop="image" content="https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/video-embed.html?video_id=6353390148112&d=video.foxbusiness.com" data-src="https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/video-embed.html?video_id=6353390148112&d=video.foxbusiness.com"]

White House is against crypto because it creates decentralization: Rep. Tom Emmer

Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., discusses new legislation to protect Americans' digital currency privacy on 'Making Money.'

The House of Representatives voted along bipartisan lines Thursday to advance legislation blocking the Federal Reserve from creating its own central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Three Democrats joined all Republicans in voting for the bill – moderate Reps. Jared Golden, D-Maine., Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash.

The CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act was led by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and backed by Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee.

SEC CHAIRMAN GENSLER'S STATEMENT ON SPOT BITCOIN ETFS

Tom Emmer

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer led a bill to block the Fed from being able to issue a central bank digital currency. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

If it passed in both chambers of Congress, the bill would be a significant step toward curbing the federal government's ability to regulate cryptocurrency, but it's not clear if the bill would be taken up in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

"For more than two years, we have worked to educate, grow support, and pass this important legislation, which prevents unelected bureaucrats from issuing a financial surveillance tool to fundamentally undermine our American values," Emmer told Fox News Digital.

"My legislation ensures that the United States' digital currency policy remains in the hands of the American people so that any development of digital money reflects our values of privacy, individual sovereignty, and free market competitiveness. This is what the future global digital economy needs."

CONSUMER ETFS SHOWING THE REAL INFLATION PICTURE

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez was one of three moderate Democrats who voted for the bill. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the financial regulatory body was "nowhere near" a place to create a central bank digital currency in remarks to Congress last March.

"If we were to ever do something like this, and we’re a very long way from even thinking about it, we would do this through the banking system, the last thing...the Federal Reserve would want would be to have individual accounts for all Americans," Powell said.

LIVE CRYPTOCURRENCY PRICES: HERE

Jerome Powell talking

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell downplayed the chances of the Fed creating a digital currency earlier this year,. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, argued Emmer's bill would "halt digital asset innovation for government uses" earlier this week when lawmakers were debating advancing the legislation.

"By prohibiting all CBDCs, the bill threatens the very primacy of the U.S. dollar and the power that affords our nation. Today, the U.S. dollar is the global reserve currency, with more than half of all international trade done in dollars. But the world is looking at how to speed up transactions and reduce costs, including by issuing their own central bank digital currencies," she said. "Currently, 13 nations are racing forward with CBDC development, including our G-7 peers, which are in far more advanced stages of CBDC development than the U.S. In fact, if this bill becomes law, we would be the only country in the world to ban a CBDC."

OTHER NEWS

16 minutes ago

U.S. Open Complaints Grow After Paywall Frustrations: 'Atrocious' Sound & Graphics Issues Anger Golf World

17 minutes ago

Zain Davids, Shilton van Wyk bolster Blitzboks in last-ditch bid for Paris Olympics

17 minutes ago

Star Wars Outlaws: Ubisoft reveals details and gameplay of anticipated game

17 minutes ago

New poll suggests less than half of Americans plan to buy an EV for their next vehicle — here’s why

17 minutes ago

ATP Halle draw: Jannik Sinner finds out first opponent as world No 1 as he lands tricky draw

17 minutes ago

Corey Heim notches best Xfinity Series finish at Iowa Speedway

17 minutes ago

Biden, Trump step up outreach to Black men

17 minutes ago

Four nights in the Maldives taught me something I wish I'd known 10 years ago

17 minutes ago

My Spy The Eternal City official trailer

18 minutes ago

Jo Cox's sister warns that politicians are still forced to fear for their lives eight years after Labour MP's murder by far-Right thug

18 minutes ago

Lady Louise Windsor, 20, borrowed her mother the Duchess of Edinburgh's floral fascinator for Trooping the Colour

18 minutes ago

Kevin Campbell tells incredible story of a 14-year-old Wayne Rooney during Southport friendly in resurfaced footage of late striker, after the former England captain paid tribute to his ex-Everton team-mate following his death aged 54

18 minutes ago

Thatcherism, austerity, Brexit, Liz Truss... goodbye and good riddance to all that

18 minutes ago

Starmer called 'political robot'

18 minutes ago

Southgate expects 'everybody to enjoy' England's opening Euros match despite security concerns

18 minutes ago

The US Open Contender Who Created His Own Highly-Rated Golf Course

18 minutes ago

John Cale's lockdown music fuelled by rage

20 minutes ago

Operation Mincemeat: the West End hit is still the perfect mix of ingenious, silly and moving

25 minutes ago

Cian Uijtdebroeks feels he needs to slow down a bit: "Sometimes I just want too much"

25 minutes ago

Hargreaves Lansdown founders hold keys in £4.7bn takeover battle

25 minutes ago

Premier League referee Bobby Madley shares touching memory of Matija Sarkic's brilliant gag on national team duty with Serbia... as he pays tribute to Millwall star after his death aged 26

28 minutes ago

Motorcyclist, 23, dies after accident at junction of Bencoolen Street, Stamford Road

28 minutes ago

BIG3 Week 1 recap: Highlights, final scores, key takeaways from season opener

28 minutes ago

Would the Lloyds share price be higher if the bank was listed in the US?

28 minutes ago

Andrey Rublev to skip Olympics for the sake of his health

29 minutes ago

Bills Linebacker on Injury Watch After Minicamp

29 minutes ago

Knights rookie burns Edwards

29 minutes ago

Expect two rate cuts this year: Citi's Nathan Sheets

29 minutes ago

I’m relieved AI has come at the end of my investing career

29 minutes ago

Gas prices fall as rent, some food costs increase, latest CPI report shows

29 minutes ago

Emirates NBD announces prestigious LEED certifications awarded across branches in the UAE and Saudi Arabia

29 minutes ago

How to watch Serbia vs England for FREE: TV channel and live stream for Euro 2024 game today

29 minutes ago

All set for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration: How the day will unfold

29 minutes ago

Bridgerton season 3 part 2 release date and time on Netflix

29 minutes ago

Married At First Sight's Hayley Vernon gets baptised and announces she's 'found Christ' after quitting the 'soul destroying' adult industry

29 minutes ago

Epping death: Disturbing details emerge after wife allegedly bashed her husband Kevin Park to death with a hammer in their Sydney home

36 minutes ago

Lady Louise Windsor, 20, borrowed her mother the Duchess of Edinburgh's floral fascinator for Trooping the Colour

36 minutes ago

Brits amazed by UK island with tropical sandy beaches – and it's great for stargazing

37 minutes ago

Chelsea ready for almighty Bayern Munich transfer scrap but Liverpool still ominously lurking

37 minutes ago

Everton eye move for Man United defender as Jarrad Branthwaite replacement