Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5390) to direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study on the feasibility of manufacturing in the United States products for critical infrastructure sectors, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5390

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act''. SEC. 2. STUDY ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE MANUFACTURING IN THE UNITED STATES.

(a) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a study to--

(1) identify, within each critical infrastructure sector, any product that is in high demand and is being imported due to a manufacturing, material, or supply chain constraint in the United States;

(2) analyze the costs and benefits of manufacturing in the United States any product identified under paragraph (1), including any effects on--

(A) jobs, employment rates, and labor conditions in the United States; and

(B) the cost of the product;

(3) identify any product identified under paragraph (1) that feasibly may be manufactured in the United States; and

(4) analyze the feasibility of, and any impediments to, manufacturing any product identified under paragraph (3) in--

(A) a rural area;

(B) an industrial park; or

(C) an industrial park in a rural area.

(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--

(1) submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study required by subsection (a), with recommendations relating to manufacturing in the United States products identified under subsection (a)(3); and

(2) make the report available to the public on the website of the Department of Commerce.

(c) Limitation on Authority.--This section may not be construed to provide the Secretary of Commerce with authority to compel a person to provide information described in this section.

(d) Definition of Critical Infrastructure Sector.--In this section, the term ``critical infrastructure sector'' means each of the 16 designated critical infrastructure sectors identified in Presidential Policy Directive 21 of February 12, 2013 (Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience).

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act, and I thank Representative Miller-Meeks, as well as Representatives Bucshon, Kuster, Schrier, and Spanberger for their leadership on this particular piece of legislation.

Manufacturing remains an essential sector for the United States, not only in terms of economic stability and American job creation, but also to ensure global leadership in areas like developing and deploying emerging technologies.

With that in mind, it is important that the United States examines where barriers exist for manufacturing in the U.S., in particular, manufacturing critical products that are in high demand in the United States. Failure to do so may cause companies offering products and services to become reliant upon countries like China for critical components and goods necessary for those products and services.

Instead, we should be analyzing ways to feasibly manufacture these products here at home. I am strongly supportive of finding pathways forward to increase our capacity to manufacture products domestically here in the United States. In fact, I am the co-chair of the newly formed Domestic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Caucus with my colleague and good friend, Buddy Carter, and we are looking at ways to bring back American manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals here in the United States, as well.

I thank all of my colleagues here, but Dr. Miller-Meeks in particular, for their important work on H.R. 5390. This legislation will help the United States identify the pathway to secure leadership in domestic manufacturing and innovation and protect economic and national security.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this particular bill sponsored by my good friend, Dr. Miller-Meeks, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. BILIRAKIS. He has done a great job on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and he is a great friend.

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this critical piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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