Bonamici Helps Pass Bill to Strengthen Economy

WASHINGTON, DC [02/4/2021] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici joined the House in passing comprehensive legislation to expand U.S. economic competitiveness by strengthening the nation's scientific enterprise and supply chains.

The America COMPETES Act will provide $52 billion to accelerate semiconductor manufacturing and design and make major investments in U.S. innovation and manufacturing. It contains Bonamici's legislation to address the effects of the climate crisis on our ocean, improve workforce development, and enhance STEAM education.

Bonamici spoke in favor of the legislation on the House floor. Video can be viewed here.

"Our country is home to some of the most cutting-edge research, innovative discoveries, and unparalleled national laboratories in the world," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "Unfortunately, in some ways we have fallen behind competitors in the past several decades. With the America COMPETES Act, we will strengthen our scientific enterprise, bolster research and development, grow our domestic semiconductor manufacturing base, and take steps to address the climate crisis.

"This legislation will make a meaningful difference in the lives of Oregonians. It will strengthen the semiconductor industry, which employs tens of thousands of workers in NW Oregon. It will create good-paying jobs and pathways for workers to enter them. It will also improve our supply chains, fixing many of the weaknesses exposed by the pandemic so we do not again face the same shortages and disruptions to our economy."

The America COMPETES Act contains the National Apprenticeship Act and PARTNERS Act, which Bonamici led to help small- and medium-sized businesses create partnerships to improve workforce training. It also includes a provision similar to Bonamici's Regional Clean Energy Innovation Act, which will help cutting-edge technologies achieve commercialization by leveraging regional clean energy capabilities and markets.

Additionally, the House passed six amendments offered by Bonamici based on legislation she previously introduced. The amendments will:

• Safeguard the health of the ocean by strengthening coastal acidification research and monitoring, expand efforts to map and conserve blue carbon ecosystems, and enhance ocean data collection.
  • Based on the COAST Research Act, Blue Carbon for our Planet Act, and BLUE GLOBE Act.
• Help workers get the skills needed to fill the jobs created by the bipartisan infrastructure law by creating new grants for industry partnerships in the infrastructure sector, including funding for support services for workers such as childcare and transportation.
  • Based on the BUILDS Act.
• Integrate the arts into STEM curriculum by enhancing the National Science Foundation's Mathematics and Science Education Partnerships program to support innovative research and provide professional development for educators.
  • Based on the Building STEAM Education Act.
• Direct the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director to develop a plan for a national circular economy to reduce emissions and limit waste.
  • Based on themes in the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Climate Action Plan.

A fact sheet about the America COMPETES Act can be found here.

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