February 04, 2022

Gallego Lauds House Passage of America COMPETES Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Today the House passed H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022. Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) proudly voted in support of the package, a transformational piece of legislation that makes critical investments in research, innovation, and American manufacturing. 

“For decades, America has been a global leader in science and technology. Nations of the world turned to the United States on matters of computing, research and development, and scientific innovation,” said Rep. Ruben Gallego. “Now more than ever, it is incredibly important for the US to double down and re-invest in the technologies and research that will allow our country to compete and lead on the global stage. Whether it’s investments in semiconductors and solar manufacturing—sectors vitally important to Arizona’s economy—or funding to ensure a stable supply chain, the COMPETES Act is a landmark package that ensures the American economy and American workers remain global economic beacons now and for years to come.”

The America COMPETES Act accelerates US production of semiconductor chips, strengthens the American supply chain to produce more American-made goods, ramps up the US’s technological research capacity, and advances our global competitiveness. 

Specifically, the Act includes key provisions Rep. Gallego fought for, such as $52 billion for the CHIPS for America Act, which provides:

  • Federal financial assistance to incentivize investment in facilities in the US for fabrication, assembly, testing or advance research and development (appropriates $50.2 billion for fiscal years 2022-2026);
  • Research, development, test and evaluation, workforce development, and other requirements that are unique to the Department of Defense and the intelligence community (appropriates $2 billion for fiscal years 2022-2026); and
  • International information and communications technology security and semiconductor supply chain activities (appropriates $500 million for fiscal years 2022-2026).

In a boon to Arizona’s growing solar industry, the American COMPETES Act provides $3 billion for the creation of a domestic solar manufacturing supply chain, which will increase resiliency and decreases dependence on China.

The package also contains key wins for Arizona workers, such as the National Apprenticeship Act, which creates one million $15 per hour registered apprenticeships over the next five years and strengthens our pipeline of qualified workers.

To compete on a global stage and combat the effects of climate change, the America COMPETES Act authorizes the Office of Energy Science, which will advance the next generation of energy storage, solar, hydrogen, critical materials, fusion energy, manufacturing, carbon removal, and bioenergy technologies.

The Act similarly encourages universities to remove barriers to recruiting, retaining, and advancing women, people of color, and groups underrepresented in STEM careers, increases STEM education in rural schools, and focuses on STEM training at minority serving institutions (MSIs). 

Finally, the Act builds on efforts supported by Rep. Gallego in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act to further strengthen and deepen alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, to counter Chinese disinformation campaigns, and to hold China accountable for its human rights violations, all better equipping the United States to compete more effectively with China.

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Rep. Ruben Gallego is a Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Natural Resources Committee, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.