House Passes Two Rep. Johnson Bills Included in Historic Economic Package

Press Release

As House Democrats continue their laser-focus on the economy with the American COMPETES Act -- a strong package to fix our supply chains, start making more critical products here in America, turbocharge American scientific and technological leadership, and strengthen our global competitiveness -- Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced two bills he previously introduced or co-led passed as part of the COMPETES Act.

His Cybersecurity Opportunity Act to create a cybersecurity grant education program at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions (HBCUs & MSIs) and the bipartisan Stopping Harmful Offers on Platforms by Screening Against Fakes in E-commerce (SHOP SAFE) Act that protects consumers by stopping the online sale of harmful counterfeit products are both included in the COMPETES legislative package.

"I'm pleased that my contributions to help fix supply chain issues, strengthen American manufacturing, and turbocharge American scientific research are in the final bill," said Rep. Johnson. "Protecting American consumers online -- particularly with the proliferation of fake N95 masks and other dangerous products sold online -- and strengthening our cybersecurity by maximizing all the tech talent can go a long way in securing our global competitiveness."

Rep. Johnson's HBCU Cybersecurity bill is the House companion to Georgia U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff's Senate legislation introduced last August that will create the "Dr. David Satcher Cybersecurity Education Grant Program," named for the former U.S. Surgeon General and Morehouse School of Medicine Dean.

"My commitment to Georgia's HBCUs is unwavering," said Sen. Jon Ossoff. "I thank the U.S. House for passing the Cybersecurity Opportunity Act to expand opportunities in this vital field for HBCU students and Georgia's HBCUs."

In the House, the Cybersecurity Opportunity Act was co-sponsored by 40 members, including Reps. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Lucy McBath (GA-06) and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

The SHOP SAFE Act was collective effort with Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Ranking Member Darrell Issa (CA-50) and Rep. Ben Cline (VA-06).

The American COMPTETES Act will:

* Make 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.

* Fix 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 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.

* Turbocharge 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.

* Secure 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.

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