Electric Supply Chain Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. McGUIRE. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, H.R. 3638, which adds essential language to address the threat posed by foreign entities of concern seeking to disrupt supply chains and undermine United States leadership in artificial intelligence development.

The United States is in a race with the Chinese Communist Party to be the global leader in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence. Maintaining that leadership requires vigilance against supply chain vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries can exploit. Our Nation has already faced significant challenges in scaling artificial intelligence infrastructure. We cannot allow foreign manipulation or interference to add to these challenges.

Disruptions to the artificial intelligence supply chain will not just weaken our country in our race against China but will have a significant, negative impact on our economy, our ability to defend ourselves, and our capacity to innovate.

This amendment recognizes that protecting the artificial intelligence supply chain is both a defensive measure and a strategic investment in our infrastructure. Establishing periodic assessments of vulnerabilities in the artificial intelligence supply chain that foreign entities of concern could exploit helps ensure our country maintains stable access to necessary components, boosting domestic manufacturing and innovation.

To remain at the forefront of the next generation of technology, we must thoroughly assess and protect our supply chain. Any disruption threatens not only our progress but also our national security, our economic strength, and our global position in the artificial intelligence race.

This amendment strengthens our ability to safeguard America's advancements in artificial intelligence by ensuring we identify, monitor, and address vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries could exploit to the detriment of our national interests. It reinforces our commitment to securing the technologies that will define the next century and ensures the United States remains the world leader in artificial intelligence. This is a commonsense idea, and I encourage my colleagues to support the amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. McGUIRE. Mr. Chair, talking about DOGE is a thinly veiled attempt to score political points by changing the topic of the conversation from this amendment, which protects our national security from foreign entities of concern, and turning it into something political.

The previous actions of DOGE do not bear any weight or relevance to this amendment. The Department of Energy is adequately staffed by very bright and talented individuals who have the capacity to monitor vulnerabilities in our supply chain that the Chinese Communist Party or other foreign adversaries could exploit to halt our progress in the artificial intelligence sphere.

This amendment is not political. It is common sense. Disruptions by foreign entities of concern to our supply chain threaten our national security, which is a cause of concern for all Americans, regardless of their political affiliation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. McGUIRE. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. McGUIRE. Mr. Chairman, in closing, this is a commonsense amendment. The United States is in a race with the Chinese Communist Party to be the global leader in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence and other capabilities such as quantum computers. Any vulnerabilities in our supply chain that our adversaries can exploit not only threaten our global standing in the artificial intelligence space, but it also threatens our national security.

This amendment protects all Americans from a significant and growing threat. I, again, encourage adoption of this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source