With everything that’s grabbing attention in Congress right now, it seems that the America COMPETES Act can’t live up to its name.
Earlier this year, the House introduced and passed the America Competes (America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength) Act (hr 4521). And in June, the Senate passed its version: The US Innovation and Competition Act (s 1260).
Both bills are major packages, proposing a reorganization of the National Science Foundation and a plethora of provisions to strengthen America’s security and competition in technology, including:
- funding for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, research and development, and supply chain security;
- establishing a Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the National Science Foundation;
- extending through 2025 the authority of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to lease its non-excess real property and related personal property;
- authorizing various programs and policies related to space exploration;
- imposing sanctions on China for cybersecurity and human rights abuses;
- requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to consider national security risks associated with sensitive genetic information.
It was assumed that a compromise bill would be hammered out. But the process has more or less ground to a halt.
Why? Mainly for two reasons.
First, the America COMPETES bill just can’t compete with more pressing matters, such as gun-control legislation. Congress only has so many days it can vote on legislation. And since this is not a “must-pass” bill, it lacks the extra push a deadline can provide.
Second, politics is once again rearing its ugly head. Republicans, with a view to the coming Midterm elections, see no reason to give Congressional Democrats a legislative win. Why not wait until after the election when Republicans could craft their own legislation?
Of course the White House could get more involved. But that might backfire. Republicans are less than enthusiastic about cooperating with President Biden, especially this close to an election.
For now, we’ll just have to wait and hope that Congress starts to take seriously America’s role as technological leader in the world.