Cantwell, Key Architect of CHIPS Package: “A great day for what might seem to many Americans as a very kind of ‘what does science and R&D really mean for me?’ Well, in reality, investment today means jobs for tomorrow.”
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Chair of the bipartisan Conference Committee on innovation and competition legislation, applauded overwhelming Senate passage today of a nearly $250 billion package of historic federal investments in American science and technology research, innovation and manufacturing. Sen. Cantwell was a key architect of the bill’s provisions and helped rally a last-minute bipartisan push for keeping investments in science in the legislation. The Act passed the Senate by a 64-33 vote.
Senate Takes Decisive Action to Advance United States Leadership in Tech Innovation
On Tuesday evening, the Senate voted to advance legislation to provide urgently needed investments in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and research and development of new innovations and technologies vital to the United States’ national security and global economic competitiveness.
Commerce Committee Approves Legislation to Strengthen Wildfire Response, Advance R&D, Combat Human Rights Abuses, Support Advanced Aviation
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced several bills today, including Senator Cantwell’s Transportation Fuel Market Transparency Act that would give the Federal Trade Commission authority to monitor and prevent any fraud or manipulation that may be artificially inflating gas pump prices. All are subject to approval by the full Senate.
Conference Committee Meets to Kick Off Negotiations
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today chaired a public meeting to kick off the Senate and House Conference Committee on bipartisan innovation and competition legislation, H.R. 4521.
Senate Vote Marks Official Start to Conference on Competition and Innovation Legislation
With a vote of 67 to 27, the U.S. Senate today agreed to go to conference on the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), H.R.4521 and negotiate an agreement with the House of Representatives on a final bill.
Cantwell, Raimondo Stress National Urgency to Pass USICA, Address U.S. Chip Crisis
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Department of Commerce (DOC) Secretary Gina Raimondo stressed the national urgency for Congress to send innovation and competition legislation to the President’s desk and unleash investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing as other nations continue to invest heavily to expand chip production.
Senate Overwhelmingly Approves Innovation and Competition Legislation, Setting Stage for Conference Committee
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation spoke on the Senate floor immediately before the Senate passed its version of bipartisan innovation legislation, the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), setting the stage for a conference where Senate and House negotiators will work to find agreement on a final bill.
Cantwell Continues Drumbeat Calling for Action on Innovation and Competition Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, again took to the Senate floor to implore colleagues to allow the Senate to begin bipartisan discussions with the House on critical innovation and competition legislation.
Cantwell at Semiconductor Hearing: “If we do nothing, these shortages are just a sample of what is to come.”
During a hearing today with tech industry CEOs, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, underscored the urgency for Congress to pass bipartisan innovation and competition legislation to help solve the lack of American semiconductor manufacturing threatening our economic and national security.
ICYMI: Cantwell, POTUS Agree “We Can’t Wait” on Passing USICA Legislation
Earlier today, President Biden and Commerce Secretary Raimondo met with executives of several companies to discuss the importance of legislation to boost semiconductor production, calling on Congress to pass bipartisan innovation and competitiveness legislation “as soon as you can.”