Press Release

Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) today voted to pass the America COMPETES Act, an historic package of legislation to fix our supply chain, turbocharge American scientific and technological leadership, and strengthen our global competitiveness.

"It is time to take the reins on global competition and innovation," said Representative Bera. "For too long, American workers and businesses have felt the burden of international competition that has only been worsened by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The COMPETES Act reinforces the United States' role as the undisputed 21^st century leader in innovation, technology, and production, while leveling the playing field to allow more American workers and businesses to compete and succeed in the global economy."

Bera continued: "The Biden Administration and Congressional Democrats have started us on the right path towards building back better with the passage of the American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Thanks to these historic actions, our country has experienced the greatest year of job growth in American history and a record drop in unemployment rates. But we cannot stop here. As we emerge on the other side of this pandemic, we must take bold action to ease the global supply chain issues and global inflation that are causing rising costs on hard working American families. As a senior member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I am proud that the America COMPETES Act strengthens American manufacturing and innovation here at home that will help grow our economy, cut costs for Americans, and fight inflationary pressures both in the near and long term."

The Bera-supported legislation includes several critical provisions, including:

• Strengthening supply chains and American manufacturing: Authorizes $45 billion to improve our nation's supply chains and strengthen our economy and national security by preventing shortages of critical goods and ensuring that more of these goods are made in the United States,
• Creating the CHIPS for America Fund: Appropriates $52 billion to incentivize private-sector investments and continued American leadership to ensure that more semiconductors are produced in the United States; and
• Advancing American scientific research and innovation: Expands and diversifies our nation's STEM workforce; and
• Strengthening America's global competitiveness: Promotes America's global leadership around the world by investing in partnerships and alliances, and in diplomacy and human rights.

Included in the COMPETES Act are multiple Bera-led provisions, including:

• The Countering China Economic Coercion Act, which would establish the first-ever interagency task force to respond to the People's Republic of China's growing economic coercion against government, businesses, organizations, and individuals;
• The Taiwan Peace and Stability Act, bipartisan legislation that strengthens U.S. support for Taiwan's participation in the international community, advances U.S-Taiwan economic ties, and enhances deterrence over a cross-Strait conflict;
• The Taiwan Fellowship Act, bipartisan legislation that establishes a fellowship exchange program for U.S. federal government employees in all three branches of government to learn, live, and work in Taiwan for a length of up to two years;
• The Honoring Our Commitment to Elevate America's Neighbor Island and Allies (OCEANIA) Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation that would elevate all of Oceania in U.S. foreign policymaking to help deliver a robust diplomatic and development commitment to support the long-term growth, governance, and resilience needs of the region; and
• An amendment calling for the full U.S. ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"The People's Republic of China (PRC) Government regularly uses heavy-handed and coercive economic practices to punish countries and companies that pursue policies that do not align with Beijing's worldview," said Bera, who serves as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation. "It's an economic and national security imperative that we better understand and address Beijing's harmful tactics. I'm proud that my bipartisan Countering China Economic Coercion Act was passed by the House of Representatives, which will create the first-ever interagency task force to respond to the PRC's growing economic coercion."