Delgado Votes to Pass America COMPETES Act to Grow American Manufacturing and Shore Up Supply Chains

Press Release

Today, the House passed the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength (America COMPETES) Act of 2022, including U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado's (NY-19) amendment to establish local manufacturing and innovation hubs. Rep. Delgado's amendment establishes a program at the Department of Commerce responsible for creating regional technology and innovation hubs that enable U.S. leadership in manufacturing and technology, support regional economic development and job growth, promote technological developments and investments in underserved communities, and accelerate the commercialization of innovative research. Delgado's amendment is based on his bipartisan MADE HERE Act.

"Problems with our supply chain and delays in getting goods to market are leading to higher costs for New Yorkers. New York families and small businesses need immediate relief," said Rep. Delgado. "I am proud to vote for this legislation that will help shore up our supply chains, grow American manufacturing, and outcompete China. This bill will promote America's economic strength, the well-being of our communities, our national security, and our leadership in the world."

The America COMPETES Act is a bold legislative package that makes transformational new investments in research, innovation and American manufacturing that will ensure that America can outcompete any nation in the world, now and for decades to come. It is a comprehensive package to strengthen America's competitiveness, including:

-Making Critically-Needed Semiconductors in America: The America COMPETES Act appropriates $52 billion for the CHIPS for America Act, critical investments to support continued American technological leadership in semiconductor fabrication, address supply chain disruptions and ensure more semiconductors are produced here at home.

-Fixing the Supply Chain & Strengthening American Manufacturing: The disruption of the pandemic has exposed deeper weaknesses in a supply chain that has increasingly relied on foreign manufacturing, instead of making goods in America with American workers. The America COMPETES Act authorizes $45 billion to fix our broken supply chains by building more critical components in America, strengthening American manufacturing, and protecting our national security with American-made capacity to prevent shortages and disruptions.

-Turbocharging American Scientific Research, Technology & Innovation Excellence: To ensure America leads the technologies of the future, the America COMPETES Act of 2022 includes a suite of bipartisan science, research, and technology bills to turbocharge American innovation, focusing on solutions instead of chasing buzzwords and maximizing the American talent pool by strengthening and diversifying our nation's STEM workforce.

-Securing America's Global Competitiveness & Leadership Through Economic Development; Diplomacy, Human Rights & Alliances: Includes numerous provisions to strengthen and promote America's leadership around the globe, ensuring that American interests, partnerships, and values succeed on the global stage, and that American leadership wins on the key issues our time.

Delgado is a champion for rebuilding American manufacturing. In 2021, Congressman Delgado unveiled his 4x4 Plan -- a comprehensive roadmap with four fixes to four parts of our economy -- energy, transportation, manufacturing, and shipping-- fixes that will lower costs for families in New York's 19th District and across America. Delgado's plan included a call to make more semiconductors here in the United States, and the America COMPETES Act delivers. Delgado also introduced the BuyAmerica.Gov Act which was passed and signed into law as a part of the bipartisan infrastructure law. This law will establish a centralized online hub to increase transparency and help ensure federal agencies prioritize the purchase of American-made goods. As the U.S. makes generational investments in infrastructure, this legislation will ensure that taxpayer-funded projects use American-made materials, helping to create and sustain American jobs.

The Senate has previously passed a version of the America COMPETES Act, known as the United States Innovation and Competition Act. Now, the House and Senate will form a conference committee to resolve differences and send a final bill to the President's desk.

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