Rep. Cleaver Supports America COMPETES Act to Bolster Manufacturing and Strengthen America’s Competitiveness

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 4521, the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength (America COMPETES) Act of 2022, which makes long overdue and historic new investments in research, innovation, and American manufacturing that will bolster domestic supply chains and ensure the United States remains competitive throughout the 21st century.

"For decades now, while China has demonstrated a national focus on supplanting the United States as the world's economic superpower, the U.S. has failed to make the kind of investments needed to maintain our edge in innovation and domestic manufacturing—which has left our supply chains vulnerable and led to price increases for American consumers," said Congressman Cleaver. "With the America COMPETES Act, we have an opportunity to return good-paying manufacturing jobs that provide critical goods made right here in America. As a dedicated defender of American workers, I'm proud to have supported this important piece of legislation, and I'm hopeful we can get it to President Biden's desk as soon as possible with bipartisan support."

Provisions from the America COMPETES Act that will accelerate American innovation and competitiveness include:

• Producing Critically Important Semiconductors in America by appropriating $52 billion for much-needed investments that support American technological leadership in semiconductor fabrication, address semiconductor supply chain disruptions, and ensure more semiconductors are made in America.
• Fixing the Supply Chain and Strengthening American Manufacturing by authorizing $45 billion to shore up our broken supply chain that has increasingly relied on foreign manufacturing instead of making goods at home with American workers. The funding will help to build more critical components in America, strengthen our domestic manufacturing industry, and protect our national security by preventing shortages and disruptions like those we've seen during the global pandemic.
• Advancing American Scientific Research, Technological Development, and Innovation by including numerous bipartisan science, research, and technology bills that invest in cutting edge technologies and maximize America's talent pool by diversifying our nation's STEM workforce.
• Securing America's Global Competitiveness and Leadership Through Economic Development, Diplomacy, and Human Rights by including funding for global partnerships and alliances, expanding investments in diplomacy, and promoting human rights causes around the world.

In June, the U.S. Senate passed similar legislation entitled the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act with bipartisan support. The bills will now go to conference to see if the House and Senate can reconcile differences between the two pieces of legislation. Once differences are reconciled, the bill will be voted on again by both chambers for final passage before it can be signed into law by President Biden.

"I'm confident that the House and Senate will be able to forge a strong bipartisan compromise that ensures America's competitiveness throughout the 21st century," said Congressman Cleaver. "Failure to do so would be the greatest gift we could give to our Chinese counterparts."

Official text of the America COMPETES Act is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.