The legislation strengthens our supply chain and reduces inflation, increases our competitiveness with China, and bolsters R&D initiatives critical to innovation and growth.
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) voted to pass the America COMPETES Act of 2022. The bill, which contains numerous provisions written by Rep. Sherrill, will reduce inflation and lower prices on goods for consumers, strengthen America's ability to compete globally, alleviate strains on our supply chain, and reaffirm America's place as a world leader in innovation and technology by strengthening our R&D investments and STEM workforce.
"The pandemic damaged and exposed issues in our nation's supply chain that are now driving inflation and raising the costs of crucial goods such as groceries, gas, and cars for New Jersey families," said Rep. Sherrill. "Today, I was proud to vote for the America COMPETES Act, which will help strengthen our supply chain and reduce inflation, increase our competitiveness with China, and bolster R&D initiatives that are critical to innovation and GDP growth. The passage of this bill is a strong step in the right direction. Moving forward, I remain committed to working to ensure the final version of this legislation does everything possible to make New Jersey more affordable for families."
The COMPETES Act includes many wins for New Jersey by:
Creating the CHIPS for America Fund to provide funding to expand semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, which is critical to the auto and electronics industries, and to strengthen our microchip supply chain.
Combating disruptions in our supply chains and bringing production back to the US, particularly for key agricultural, energy, and industrial sectors.
Bolstering funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which in New Jersey helps small- and mid-size manufacturers train workers, adopt new technologies, and strengthen their supply chains. Rep. Sherrill worked to include an amendment in this legislation expanding the MEP Supply Chain Database, which will help our businesses avoid supply chain congestion and keep prices low.
Requiring the government to closely monitor the bill's impact on reducing inflation and ensuring strong oversight of spending, a priority of Rep. Sherrill's in this bill.
Invigorating American leadership in scientific and technological research, ensuring that North Jersey's scientists and engineers continue to be at the cutting edge of innovation to benefit our businesses and create more jobs.
Equipping our leading scientific agencies—the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)—with a broader set of tools and investments to tackle the biggest problems we face, such as climate change and cybersecurity. Importantly, these investments in innovation are paired with measures to ensure that American businesses, workers and families are the ones to bring these innovations to market.
Strengthening and promoting America's leadership around the globe. The bill reaffirms the United States as a global leader through investments in partnerships and alliances, expanding its investments in diplomacy, and promoting human rights across the globe.
Specifically, Rep. Sherrill authored the following provisions in the America COMPETES Act to:
Require the Comptroller General to study and report on how this bill will help to reduce inflation and ensure that funds are spent responsibly;
Help critical supply chain sectors like the trucking and warehouse industries hire and train more workers quickly, by expanding access to our national apprenticeship system;
Increase funding for a research initiative developing new long-duration energy storage – bolstering our grid resiliency and sustainability and increasing our energy independence from nations like China;
Fund research for rooftop solar and reliable grid technology to support innovation in the United States and give Americans affordable renewable energy;
Strengthen NIST's ability to develop and manage greenhouse gas emissions measurements, which will boost our global competitiveness; and
Create a grant program for states like New Jersey to offset energy costs for families and provide incentives for companies to accelerate and expand improvements to their natural gas distribution systems to reduce pollution in our communities.
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