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  • Washington Highlights

    House Passes America COMPETES Act

    Contacts

    Christa Wagner, Manager, Government Relations

    The House of Representatives passed the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength (America COMPETES) Act of 2022 (H.R. 4521) by a vote of 222-210 predominantly along party lines on Feb. 4.

    The vote followed three days of debate on more than 250 amendments that were ruled in order by the House Rules Committee, following its Feb. 1 meeting. The bill aims to invest in domestic research and manufacturing to enhance the country’s global competitiveness and includes provisions to authorize funding for the National Science Foundation, provide support to early-career researchers and to diversify the research workforce, and increase reporting requirements for foreign gifts and contracts to institutions of higher education.

    Lawmakers approved 220 amendments during floor consideration, addressing topics including ensuring that implementation of research security provisions in the bill does not result in discrimination against people of Asian descent, expanding the U.S. contribution to global COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution efforts, and diplomatic relations with China.

    The America COMPETES Act was introduced by House Democrats on Jan. 25 with the goal of conferencing the House-passed bill with the Senate-passed bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act [refer to Washington Highlights, Jan. 28]. No additional details on the conference process have been released.