(HorizonPost.com) – The United States Innovation and Competition Act has been languishing in the Senate for some time now, but it finally passed through in a very rare display of bipartisan support with a 68-32 vote. The $250 billion measure seeks to increase America’s technology base and manufacturing skills while at the same time curbing the influence of and dependence on the People’s Republic of China.
The Senate on Tuesday passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, a $250 billion bill aimed at countering China’s technological ambitions. https://t.co/h50IScdfW0
— CNBC (@CNBC) June 9, 2021
The legislation would increase American jobs by bringing manufacturing of things like computer chips and medicines back within its borders from overseas. The Senators also included language that would support an investigation into the origins of the novel coronavirus and $300 million to push back against the Chinese Communist Party.
While the bill received massive support, there was some pushback, notably from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who voted against it because he could not include an amendment tying strings to the money to manufacture microchips. As written, it faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives and will likely go through joint committees to hammer out a compromise that both chambers will agree to pass.
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