Including Certain Computer-Related Projects in the Federal Permitting Program Under Title Xli of the Fast Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3451) to include certain computer-related projects in the Federal permitting program under title XLI of the FAST Act, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 3451

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

Section 41001(6)(A) of the FAST Act (42 U.S.C. 4370m(6)(A)) is amended, in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting ``semiconductors, artificial intelligence and machine learning, high-performance computing and advanced computer hardware and software, quantum information science and technology, data storage and data management, cybersecurity,'' after ``manufacturing,''.

Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense bill that I believe has bipartisan support involving the construction of chip manufacturing and other computer-related manufacturing rights here in the United States. Obviously, this is a big effort that has been ongoing in Congress for some time.

The bill here simply adds key national security-related technologies, like semiconductors, to the types of projects that are eligible for an existing Federal program that improves the coordination between Federal departments on permitting. We oftentimes, as we know, have difficulty in getting the permitting process to work, and it creates delays in process. It not only takes time, but it increases costs. So this is an effort to try to address that.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously back in January. Sending this bill to the President will build on the progress we are already making today with the CHIPS and Science Act.

Both bills are critical to America leading in manufacturing of chips. We know that it is the future of the 21st century economy that creates good jobs and ensures our competitiveness in the global economy that we live in.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the House's adoption of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, clearly, I think there is an agreement that America needs to increase its production of critical minerals for the economy of the 21st century. I think oftentimes there are differences on how we establish a framework and a goal in terms of the production of those critical minerals.

I think that there is support on both sides of the aisle for streamlining the permitting process that is reflected in this bill, and, clearly, I appreciate the efforts and the comments of my colleague, the gentleman from Arkansas. Obviously, we have more work to do, and this is a good bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the House's adoption, and I yield the balance of my time.

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