In Response to Russia’s War in Ukraine, New Democrat Coalition Leaders Call for Swift Negotiations on a Bipartisan Innovation Bill to Strengthen American Leadership and Global Supply Chains
Today, New Democrat Coalition Leadership Members sent a letter to congressional leadership calling for swift action on a bipartisan innovation bill in light of current challenges at home and abroad. Russia’s assault on Ukraine has shined a spotlight on the urgent need for strong American leadership that promotes democracy, human rights, and resilient global supply chains. A bipartisan innovation bill will enable America to lead the global 21st century innovation economy, counter the influence of adversarial powers, strengthen and diversify our global and domestic supply chains in an unpredictable world, and ease long-term inflationary pressures. As Congress advances the conference committee process, we must finish the job on this vital legislation to reduce prices, strengthen American economic and global leadership, create quality American jobs, and supercharge domestic advanced manufacturing of critical technologies.
“This is a critical moment for the United States and the world. We must live up to the demands of the moment by swiftly advancing the conference committee process to negotiate and pass a strong final bipartisan innovation bill that promotes American global leadership, strengthens supply chains, grows our economy, and lowers costs for Americans,” said New Democrat Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “New Dems have been leaders on this legislation from the beginning, shaping it and advancing it through key committees. We know that passing this key bipartisan innovation bill will ease the challenges Americans are feeling now, and New Dems will continue our work to get the final legislation across the finish line and to the President’s desk as soon as possible.”
The letter from New Dem Leadership Members to Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, Majority Leader Schumer, and Minority Leader McConnell reads in part:
“It is time for us to act and deliver on our shared priorities of lowering inflation, strengthening supply chains, creating U.S. jobs, and promoting American values on the global stage. President Biden has reclaimed America’s role as a global leader in defense of democracy and human rights as the west responds to Russia’s assault on Ukraine. Let’s finish the job on bipartisan innovation legislation so America can lead on all fronts and work with our allies to counter the influence of adversarial powers.”
Read the full letter here and below:
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader
McConnell:
Thank you for your leadership in developing and advancing both the Senate-passed United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the House-passed America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength Act (America COMPETES) Act. The New Democrat Coalition (NDC) supports swift action on bipartisan legislation that invests in American innovation, reduces inflationary pressures, and grows the economy. Over the past months, the urgency to finalize this legislation has grown as we seek to address the current challenges we face both at home and abroad.
American consumers are paying more and waiting longer for the goods they depend on as the global pandemic slows supply chains and drives inflation. A bipartisan innovation bill would help ease long-term inflationary pressures by providing new funding to increase the domestic production of semiconductors and microchips and diversify and secure our global supply chains.
In light of Russia’s assault on Ukraine, it is clear that we must strengthen American leadership on the global stage and have resilient supply chains. Taiwan supplies 90% of world’s chips; depending so heavily on one source for such critical technologies leaves the U.S. economy and national security at risk. In just a few weeks, we’ve seen how Europe’s dependence on Russian oil has made it susceptible to supply chain disruptions and limited its ability take action against Russia. Bipartisan innovation legislation would allow the U.S. and our allies to counter the abuses of autocrats like Vladimir Putin and non-market economies like China, strengthen our allies, promote our values in the world, and ensure the U.S. leads the global economy in innovation.
It is time for us to act and deliver on our shared priorities of lowering inflation, strengthening supply chains, creating U.S. jobs, and promoting American values on the global stage. President Biden has reclaimed America’s role as a global leader in defense of democracy and human rights as the west responds to Russia’s assault on Ukraine. Let’s finish the job on bipartisan innovation legislation so America can lead on all fronts and work with our allies to counter the influence of adversarial powers. We are grateful for all of your work and we stand ready to work with you to get this legislation to the President’s desk as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
New Dem Leadership Members Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Scott Peters (CA-52), Ami Bera (CA-07), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Kathy Manning (NC-06), Bradley Schneider (IL-10), Stacey E. Plaskett (VI-AL), and Derek Kilmer (WA-06).
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