Washington, D.C. – The XR Association (XRA) has made great progress in helping U.S. lawmakers to better understand the transformative potential of immersive technology (XR). With the recent introduction of the U.S. Leadership in Immersive Technology Act of 2024, Congress recognized XR’s important role in strengthening the U.S. economy and supporting national security. Congress must focus on establishing U.S. leadership in XR innovation, adoption, and governance, and create the enabling environment needed for immersive technology to flourish.
“As the priorities of the 119th Congress begin to take shape, XRA proposes eight key policy initiatives to establish U.S. leadership in XR technology” said Joan O’Hara, XRA’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy. “These recommendations are designed to strengthen America’s economic competitiveness and national security, while positioning the U.S. as a leader among like-minded allies in shaping global governance and standards. Our goal is to advance legislation that maximizes the benefits of XR across all sectors and industries, driving progress for the entire economy.”
The eight recommended policy actions are:
- Reintroduce and Pass the United States Leadership in Immersive Technology Act of 2024 (H.R.10359/S.5473): Congress should reintroduce and pass the United States Leadership in Immersive Technology Act of 2024 to establish an interagency, multi-stakeholder panel under the Department of Commerce to advise the President on the development, deployment, adoption, and governance of immersive technology in the U.S.
- Accelerate the U.S. Government’s Use of Digital Twins: The Department of Homeland Security should develop a digital twin pilot program within FEMA to enhance emergency planning, preparedness, and disaster response. The National Institute of Standards and Technology should also establish testbeds to support the development and testing of digital twin technology across federal agencies.
- Convene a Global Summit on International XR Governance: The Department of Commerce, and other appropriate agencies, should convene an international summit for like-minded allies to chart the path for unified global governance.
- Strengthen Supply Chain Security and U.S. Competitiveness: Congress should enact policies to enhance supply chain security and resilience, ensure access to critical components and hardware, and bolster the United States’ ability to innovate and lead in immersive technology manufacturing through legislation like the Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act of 2023 (H.R.6571)
- Empower Americans for the Workforce of Tomorrow: Congress should support the use of immersive technology to train and upskill the U.S. workforce by passing measures like the Immersive Technology for the American Workforce Act of 2023 (H.R. 3211) which would help provide cutting-edge skills training to underserved communities and drive future-ready careers. What’s more, initiatives like SMART USA (Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins USA) will leverage digital twins to improve domestic semiconductor design and manufacturing – ultimately facilitating collaboration within the semiconductor ecosystem and expanding training opportunities for the industry’s growing workforce.
- Expand Access to High-Quality, Technology-Based Healthcare: Congress should pass legislation like the Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act of 2023 (S. 723) to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage to prescription digital therapeutics and broaden patient access to cutting edge treatments. Relatedly, the FDA should lean into initiatives like its Digital Health Advisory Committee to improve the agency’s understanding of digital health technologies and ultimately accelerate responsible and appropriate approvals.
- Enhance U.S. Participation in International Standards Development Organizations: Congress should encourage and enable stronger United States engagement in developing standards and specifications for critical and emerging technologies by passing legislation like the Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act of 2024 (S.3849). Global standards will determine the future of immersive technology, and the United States must match the level of participation in international standards bodies by global competitors like China, and allies like the EU, to ensure the U.S. plays a leading role.
- Create a National Privacy Standard: Congress should enact a comprehensive federal data protection law that addresses the opportunities and challenges of the digital age. This legislation should clearly articulate the individual’s right to control their personal data and clarify the responsibilities of entities that collect, process, and manage such information.
XRA looks forward to working with policymakers to achieve these goals to strengthen our economy, bolster U.S. leadership in emerging technologies, and further develop best practices to ensure safety and access for all communities.
The full policy priorities document goes further in-depth into XRA’s proposed policies. Read more here.
