Today, Congressman Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township), member of the House Education and Labor Committee, voted to pass H.R. 4521, the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength (COMPETES) Act which passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 222-210.
America COMPETES will advance U.S. innovation and competitiveness by addressing supply chain disruptions while investing in research, workforce development and climate resiliency.
In conference with the Senate, Congressman Levin will push for the inclusion of his bipartisan Jumpstart Our Businesses By Supporting Students (JOBS) Act. By broadening Pell Grant eligibility for high-quality, short-term programs, the JOBS Act will provide critical training for the manufacturing jobs that America COMPETES will bring back to the U.S.
"As a son of Oakland County, I know how central manufacturing is to our Michigan identity. The pandemic, coupled with a trade policy that undermines workers and our environment, has paralyzed manufacturing in our state and across the county," said Congressman Levin. "America COMPETES Act will tackle the most urgent problem crippling our automotive industry by funding semiconductor manufacturing, including $2 billion for ‘mature node' chips, helping Michigan workers, consumers and industry alike. The bill also invests $3 billion to fund the establishment of a domestic solar manufacturing supply chain and $375 million to establish a Strategic Transformer Reserve and invest in critical equipment for the electric grid."
"With the addition of my JOBS Act provision, America COMPETES could launch good-paying careers in manufacturing and provide pathways to two- and four-year degrees while we shore up the auto industry, tackle climate change and more," concluded Congressman Levin.
America COMPETES is a comprehensive, strategic package that will power the success of America's workers, businesses and economy at home and position America to compete – and win – on the world stage. It will super-charge American innovation and competitiveness, immediately and in the long-run, including by:
- Making Critically-Needed Semiconductors in America: Over the past 30 years, the United States' global share of manufacturing semiconductors – an increasingly essential component in everything from computers to cars – has collapsed, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to chip shortages and disruptions abroad that drive up costs of key goods here at home. The America COMPETES Act meets this challenge by appropriating $52 billion for the CHIPS for America Act, critical investments to support continued American technological leadership in semiconductor fabrication, address supply chain disruptions and ensure more semiconductors are produced here at home.
- Fixing the Supply Chain & Strengthening American Manufacturing: The disruption of the pandemic has exposed deeper weaknesses in a supply chain that has increasingly relied on foreign manufacturing, instead of making goods in America with American workers. The America COMPETES Act authorizes $45 billion to fix our broken supply chains by building more critical components in America, strengthening American manufacturing and protecting our national security with American-made capacity to prevent shortages and disruptions – including public health and biological preparedness, information and communications technology, the energy and transportation sector's industrial base, and agricultural commodities and food products.
- Turbocharging American Scientific Research, Technology & Innovation Excellence: To ensure America leads the technologies of the future, the America COMPETES Act of 2022 includes a suite of bipartisan science, research and technology bills to turbocharge American innovation, focusing on solutions instead of chasing buzzwords and maximizing the American talent pool by strengthening and diversifying our nation's STEM workforce.
- Securing America's Global Competitiveness & Leadership Through Economic Development; Diplomacy, Human Rights & Alliances: Includes numerous provisions to strengthen and promote America's leadership around the globe, ensuring that American interests, partnerships and values succeed on the global stage, and that American leadership wins on the key issues our time, including the climate crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, particularly as the PRC and other countries seek to re-write the rules of the road in their favor. COMPETES takes real, strong action to hold the PRC accountable for its trade abuses and its human rights violations, including the genocide against the Uyghurs.
Source:https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-applauds-chip-funding-and-climate-measures-america-competes
