Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) has praised the passage of the bipartisan COMPETES Act, a comprehensive package that addresses supply chain issues, promotes American manufacturing, and invests in American STEM innovation.
“Few things are more important to members of my community right now than shoring up our supply chains and getting inflation under control,” said Houlahan. “The truth is, decades of declining American manufacturing have left our economy vulnerable to global disruptions like this pandemic. I worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make this bill stronger, and I was glad to see my specific proposals included. It’s past time that the Congress take action.”
Her bipartisan bill, the Strengthening Supply Chains for Servicemembers and Security Act, was adopted via amendment by a vote of 262-168. This bill, which was co-led by Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), will reduce foreign dependence on life-saving drugs for servicemembers.
Her bipartisan effort with fellow Pennsylvanian, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, was adopted under the same amendment package—262-168. This amendment directs the National Academies to study the feasibility of providing enhanced research security services to further protect the United States research enterprise against foreign interference, theft, and espionage.
The COMPETES Act fully funds the CHIPS Act, as Houlahan has called for on several occasions to address the semiconductor supply chain shortage. Since 1990, the global share of semiconductor manufacturing in the United States has fallen from 37 to 12 percent.
“While our economy has shown its resilience, gaining back 87% of the 22 million jobs lost during the pandemic, families are still hurting—getting costs down and goods moving is a top priority of mine,” said Houlahan. “This legislation means vehicles won’t be held up on the assembly line because we are waiting on semiconductors from abroad. It means shorter delivery times on goods because they will be made right here in America and better jobs as we make overdue investments in STEM research in our community.”
Although Houlahan recognizes the need to move this supply chain and competitiveness bill to the President’s desk quickly, her support was not without pause. This week, Houlahan met with Speaker Pelosi to express her concerns in an effort to improve the bill before House passage.
“I represent an incredibly engaged and civic-minded community, and I heard from several groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and the agriculture sector, about their concerns with specific aspects of the COMPETES Act,” added Houlahan. “I was disappointed when some of my efforts to address those specific concerns were blocked from consideration, but I remain committed to working towards a bipartisan compromise with the Senate in conference committee. This bill is too important for Pennsylvania families to cut any corners—we must get it right.”
Major provisions in the COMPETES Act include making critically needed semiconductors in America, fixing the Supply Chain and strengthening American Manufacturing and turbocharging American Scientific Research, Technology and innovation excellence. It will also help to secure America’s global competitiveness and leadership through economic development, Houlahan said.
