A spending agreement revealed by congressional leaders, known as the 'Christmas Tree' stopgap bill, aims to prevent a government shutdown. The bill, spanning 1,547 pages and funding the government until March 14, 2025, includes the 'Deploying American Blockchains Act.' This act empowers the U.S. Department of Commerce to advise on blockchain technology and form an expert group. Representative Larry Bucshon highlights the bill's potential to drive innovation and economic growth. Additionally, the bill establishes a 'National Blockchain Deployment Advisory Committee' to explore blockchain's benefits for federal agencies and national security. The bill's passage could see Howard Lutnick, a Tether-linked Bitcoin advocate, appointed as Commerce Secretary. However, criticism from figures like Elon Musk raises doubts about the bill's fate. Failure to pass the bill before Friday's deadline could lead to a government shutdown. Read more AI-generated news on: https://app.chaingpt.org/news