Rep. Chu Statement on America COMPETES Act

Press Release

The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act, a comprehensive package of science, commerce, trade, foreign policy, manufacturing, and education policy to improve American competitiveness. This bill includes $2 billion to support industries reliant on semiconductors, like automobiles and electronics and $45 billion to improve supply chain resilience and manufacturing technology. The America COMPETES Act will also make investments in the future, by creating a new Directorate for Science and Engineering Solutions to accelerate research and development at institutions like Caltech that address pressing issues like climate change, cybersecurity, and global competitiveness. And it modernizes our support for workers who have lost jobs due to trade while also improving our laws to ensure trade is more fair to the US, while continuing to protect the supply chain. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) issued the following statement:

"I was proud to vote today to invest in America's future by passing the America COMPETES Act. Challenges like climate change, global trade competition, and cybersecurity will define our country in the years to come, and we need to make sure that America has the talent and infrastructure to meet that need. That is what this bill does by investing $52 billion for semiconductor production here at home, an investment that will also improve the supply chain for almost every product in our lives. And it modernizes the National Science Foundation to advance America's scientific leadership by supporting institutions like Caltech, here in my district, which is one of NSF's most trusted partners to help engineer the solutions for tomorrow's problems and increasing investments in STEM education. These investments will help improve manufacturing while also supporting the innovative research that has always kept America at the forefront of global progress and leadership. And, as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I'm proud to see a number of provisions in this bill to better support our workers who have lost their jobs due to trade and to improve our trade system to be more fair to the US while upholding American ideals in our trade programs. That includes protecting our supply chain from anti-free market policies. The best way for America to meet the challenges of tomorrow is to make the needed investments today. And I'm grateful to my colleagues who focused on the substance of this bill and what it would do for America instead of using it as another opportunity to spread vague fear and bigotry that endangers the lives of Asian Americans."

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