July 27th, 2022 by WCBC Radio
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement on Senate passage of the “CHIPS + Science” bill. “The United States Senate today showed the nation that we can, once again, work in a bipartisan fashion to pass bills that make life better for all Americans. Passage of the chips and science bill will make America more competitive by bringing crucial manufacturing capacity back home, and fostering innovation and scientific discovery. It will create jobs and lower prices.
“The measure we approved 64-33 will provide $54 billion in grants to domestic manufacturers and another $24 billion in tax credits through the ‘Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Fund.’ We also authorize $102 billion over the next five years for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Commerce, and the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST). These funds will be a ‘shot in the arm’ for domestic manufacturing.”
In addition to the incentives for domestic semiconductor manufacturing, the Senate voted today to support science and innovation.
· the first-of-its-kind NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation & Partnerships
· tripling of funding for the Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP) and leverages the MEP to create a National Supply Chain Database
· authorizes the National Aeronautics & Space Administration’s (NASA) Artemis program to return Americans to the Moon as a prelude to sending humans to Mars.
· Extends the International Space Station through 2030 and supports a balanced science portfolio, including Earth science observations and continued development of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
· Codifies the Planetary Defense Coordination Office and requires NASA to continue efforts to protect Earth from asteroids and comets.
· Continues research by NASA, similar to my ‘Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act’ to advance aircraft efficiency and supersonic flight.
The legislation approved today helps short-circuit foreign programs designs to capture American resources and trained personnel. It mandates that the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) to promulgate guidance to all Federal research agencies that would:
· prohibit Federal research agency personnel from participating in foreign talent recruitment programs;
· require covered individuals on applications (e.g., Principal Investigators) to disclose participation in foreign talent recruitment programs; and
· prohibit awards in cases where covered individuals are participating in malign foreign talent recruitment programs.
“While the legislation we approved today is necessary, it is not sufficient. It does not extend the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, for instance. Fortunately, conferees are still working on these and other provisions from the Senate-passed ‘United States Innovation & Competition Act’ (USICA) and the House-passed ‘America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength’ (America COMPETES Act). I hope the Senate will have the opportunity to vote on a conference report that covers many issues the substitute amendment does not address.”
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