Overview
Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN) is the House Majority Whip and the lead sponsor of the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, the legislation prohibiting the Federal Reserve from issuing a retail central bank digital currency. He has championed anti-CBDC legislation since the 117th Congress and is one of the most prominent crypto allies in House Republican leadership.
Key Facts
- U.S. Representative from Minnesota’s 6th district; House Majority Whip.
- Lead sponsor and primary champion of the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act (H.R. 1919) across multiple Congress sessions.
- Bill passed the House 219-210 on July 17, 2025, as part of Crypto Week.
- Framing: CBDC as “Orwellian surveillance tool”; invoked China’s digital yuan and Canada’s 2022 trucker account freezes as examples.
- Bill prohibits the Fed from issuing a CBDC directly or via intermediaries; prevents Fed from using CBDC for monetary policy.
- 135 House cosponsors for the Anti-CBDC Act.
- Q2 2025 FEC disclosure: $827.5K raised; $3.8M cash on hand.
- Bill supported by: American Bankers Association, Heritage Action, Club for Growth, Blockchain Association, Ripple, and others.
Newsletter Relevance
Emmer represents the libertarian-right coalition against government-controlled digital money. His Anti-CBDC Act is the most partisan of the Crypto Week bills (219-210 vs. 294-134 for CLARITY, 68-30 in Senate for GENIUS). The framing of CBDC as a surveillance weapon connects crypto policy to broader debates about government overreach, financial privacy, and the Chinese surveillance state as a warning example.
Connections
- CBDC — lead opponent of government digital dollar
- GENIUS Act — companion legislation in Crypto Week package
- CLARITY Act — companion legislation; co-championed Crypto Week with Hill and Thompson
- Donald Trump — Trump’s January 2025 EO prohibited CBDC development; Emmer’s bill codifies this
- Federal Reserve — institution targeted by his legislation
- French Hill — House leadership partner on Crypto Week
Source Appearances
- Anti-CBDC Act Passes House — Tom Emmer Press Release — primary source; full floor remarks
- House Announces Crypto Week July 14 — Financial Services Committee — quoted on Crypto Week
- White House SAP Anti-CBDC Act — OMB — White House supporting his bill
Open Questions
- Will the Anti-CBDC Act pass the Senate? Not yet considered as of Crypto Week.
- How does Emmer’s anti-CBDC stance interact with the fact that private stablecoins (Circle, Tether) also surveil users via BSA/KYC?
- Does banking industry support (ABA, ICBA) for the Anti-CBDC Act reflect genuine privacy concerns or strategic opposition to government competition with private banks?