Senators have dramatically revamped a widespread bill with more than $170 billion in funding to fuel technological and economic competition with China, including $52 billion for domestic semiconductor production and $1.5 billion for telecommunications funding along with intellectual property enforcement.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York unveiled the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, a legislative package that renamed what had been called the Endless Frontier Act. He added to the measure several other bills aimed at combating China’s economic influence.
The version of the measure Schumer filed late Tuesday will likely please advocates of 5G Open RAN, a way to build out networks with vendor-neutral hardware that could help kick out Chinese hardware manufacturers Huawei and ZTE, reports Politico. It includes $1.5 billion for a Commerce Department fund to incentivize such efforts. Separate provisions would authorize the creation of Open RAN test sites.
The bill would create a new Directorate of Technology and Innovation at the National Science Foundation to support research and technology development in key technology focus areas, such as artificial intelligence and quantum science. Major activities would include funding research and development at collaborative institutes, supporting academic technology transfer and intellectual property protection, establishing technology testbeds, and awarding scholarships and fellowships to build the workforce, according to Schumer. The Directorate would be authorized at $29 billion over fiscal years 2022 to 2026, including a transfer of $2.9B to existing NSF divisions to support basic research collaboration.
The measure would authorize $52 billion over fiscal years 2022 to 2026 for existing NSF activities, representing a seven percent increase each year. The legislation would also create a Chief Diversity Officer at NSF and increase STEM education to enhance the domestic STEM workforce. The legislation also incorporates a series of new programs for precision agriculture, rural STEM education, quantum information science, skilled technical education, critical minerals, and bioeconomy R&D.
The expanded bill, S. 1260, is now more than 1,400 pages. GOP lawmakers complained the bill contains spending not germane to the topic.
Lead Republican sponsor, Todd Young of Indiana, said the legislation became a magnet for special interests. Rep. Ro Khanna, (D-CA) introduced the House companion bill. He understands the criticism. “Everyone knows this thing is going to pass, so every lobbyist wants to add everything they can,” he told Politico.
However, that’s part of the balancing act needed to get 60 Senate votes, he notes. “There’s a difference in getting co-opted by special interests versus making sure every constituency’s voice is represented.”
Schumer’s expanded bill would also authorize the following spending:
- $49.5 billion over five years to establish a “CHIPS for America Fund” aimed at expanding the American semiconductor industry and alleviating the microchip shortage.
- $2 billion to support semiconductor development for the Department of Defense and the U.S. intelligence community.
- $500 million to better develop a secure international supply chain for semiconductors.
Reader Interactions