Smucker Opposes "America COMPETES" Act

Statement

Rep. Lloyd Smucker released the following statement after voting against H.R. 4521:

"The so-called America COMPETES Act won't help our nation win. The Senate produced a rare bipartisan bill to help protect and bolster our nation's technological research and semiconductor manufacturing capacity which is critical to our long-term national security, but that's not what we considered today. House Democrats gutted a bill instead of using the amendment process to make targeted improvements. They are trying to hide as much of their unpopular agenda as they can in this bill under the guise of helping our nation compete in the global marketplace with nations like China.

What House Democrats have with the America COMPETES Act is a rushed, unfocused, and purely partisan hack piece of legislation. On policy, it's a grab bag of President Biden's Green New Deal, "Build Back Bankrupt" initiatives, and policies totally unrelated to our nation's global competitiveness. What does coral reef conservation have in common with semiconductor manufacturing? Nothing, but in Speaker Pelosi's House these shenanigans are commonplace. Legislation to assist with coral reef conservation, a laudable goal, should be considered on its own merits separate from this bill.

Keeping in line with House Democrats' routine, this legislation includes massive giveaways to labor unions. It also would constrain America's workforce pipeline by eliminating innovative industry-recognized apprenticeship programs.

This bill was not considered in committee, bypassing regular order. This legislation also has not received a score from the Congressional Budget Office. At a time when our national debt eclipsed $30 trillion, our spending and potential deficits must be closely scrutinized.

I couldn't in good conscience support this legislation, America deserves better," said Smucker.

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