House Leaders Announce Members for COMPETES Act Conference Committee

In a move signaling progress on agreement towards a major scientific research and semiconductor investment package, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy recently announced bipartisan conference committee members to negotiate with the Senate on the House’s America COMPETES Act. The COMPETES Act, which passed the House in February, includes a $52 billion investment in the production of semiconductor chips and another $45 billion for advancing manufacturing in the United States. Notable conferees include prominent members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, as well as key members from the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Speaker Pelosi’s remarks following the announcement emphasized the importance of strengthening the U.S. supply chain to decrease costs for Americans as inflationary pressures continue to dampen the global economy. She also promoted the Act’s investments in R&D and STEM workforce diversification. Minority Leader McCarthy’s statement argued for a strong platform to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., citing competition from China as a key challenge to U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.
 
The announced members will attend a committee conference with members from the Senate to reconcile differences between the House’s COMPETES Act and the Senate’s United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), with a goal of finalizing a bill that could pass in both chambers to be sent to the President to become law. The Senate is yet to announce their conferees.
 
For additional information on the America COMPETES Act of 2022, visit:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4521