Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the America COMPETES Act.

Our country is home to some of the most cutting edge research, innovative discoveries, and unparalleled national laboratories in the world.

Unfortunately, in some ways, we have fallen behind competitors during the past several decades, but with this legislation, we will strengthen our enterprise, bolster research and development, grow our domestic semiconductor manufacturing base, and make sure critical supply chains are based in the U.S.

This legislation includes a provision similar to my Regional Clean Energy Innovation Act to help cutting-edge technologies achieve commercialization by leveraging regional clean energy capabilities and markets.

As co-chair of the House Apprenticeship Caucus, I am thrilled that the America COMPETES Act includes not only the National Apprenticeship Act but also my PARTNERS Act, which will promote workforce training and help more people access good-paying jobs.

I am very grateful to Chair Johnson for her leadership on this bill and for Chair McGovern for making in order six of my amendments. If incorporated, they will help address climate change, improve workforce development, and enhance STEM education. In particular, the Blue Carbon for our Planet Act, BLUE GLOBE Act, and COAST Research Act will strengthen coastal acidification research and monitoring, expand efforts to map and conserve blue carbon ecosystems, and enhance ocean data collection.

And my bipartisan BUILDS Act, which provides grants for infrastructure industry partnerships, will play a pivotal role in helping workers get the skills they need to fill the jobs created by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

And my amendment with Mr. Langevin to enhance NSF's Mathematics and Science Education Partnership program will support innovative research and provide professional development for educators on how to boost creativity in STEM by integrating the arts.

The America COMPETES Act will reinvigorate America's research enterprise and restore its competitive edge. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Johnson for yielding me the time.

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, as the designee of Chairwoman Johnson, pursuant to House Resolution 900, I offer amendments en bloc.

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.

Madam Speaker, this is a package of en bloc amendments that are bipartisan. It includes the amendment that I offered with Representative Gonzalez-Colon and Representative Posey for the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act, which is very important to address ocean acidification, and also the amendment I offered with Mr. Posey to create an interagency working group on blue carbon led by NOAA to oversee the development of a national map of blue carbon ecosystems.

This package of amendments will improve the very important America COMPETES Act, and I urge its passage.

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers, but I want to address the package of en bloc amendments.

Again, these amendments will improve the America COMPETES Act, which is so important for United States leadership and to incentivize and ramp up U.S. manufacturing. It is a very important bill, strengthened by this en bloc amendment, and I urge its passage.

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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