WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced that several measures he introduced to help ensure America’s continued leadership in manufacturing and emerging technologies were included in the Senate-passed CHIPS-Plus Act.
“Maintaining America’s competitive edge against China is critical to our economic and national security,” said Blunt. “This bill includes targeted investments in technological development and manufacturing that will strengthen our position in the global economy. The bill expands the successful Manufacturing USA program by creating new innovation hubs and helps ensure we have the right federal policy in place to support the research and development of emerging technologies. I was proud to be a part of this effort, and I urge our House colleagues to get this bill to the president’s desk.”
Following are the Blunt-backed measures included in the CHIPS-Plus Act:
Manufacturing USA: The legislation includes Blunt and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s (Ohio) provision to expand Manufacturing USA, a national network of institutes focused on developing innovative manufacturing technologies through public-private partnerships. The new provision provides $829 million in funding to support new and existing institutes, which will help ensure America remains a leader in global innovation. Manufacturing USA was created under Blunt and Brown’s 2014 Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act.
Research and Development: The bill includes a version of Blunt and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen’s (Md.) National Strategy to Ensure American Leadership (SEAL) Act, which helps ensure sustained U.S. leadership in discovery and innovation, and strengthens America’s competitive edge against China. The provision directs the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to identify the key emerging science and technology challenges and provide recommendations to ensure the United States remains competitive and secure in the global economy.
Advanced Materials: The bill includes the Investing in Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing Act, which Senator Blunt cosponsored, to expand eligibility for grant funding to producers of advanced materials used in semiconductor manufacturing and maintain U.S. leadership in such cutting edge technologies.