(RepublicanInformer.com)- A sweeping bill to make the US more competitive with China while boosting domestic tech manufacturing and research was tabled on Friday after several Republican Senators made last-minute attempts to halt the vote.
The vote on the American Innovation and Competition Act will not take place until June 8, after Senators return from their week long Memorial Day recess.
The immense 2,400 page bill has bipartisan support and is poised to be one of the most comprehensive investments in U.S. research and development in years.
But as the bill grew in size and scope, it began to draw significant opposition from a number of Republican Senators who insisted on more time to review the revisions and make changes.
And when it became clear that Republicans would not relent, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had no choice but to reschedule the vote.
Calling the bill “historic and extremely bipartisan” as he opened the Senate on Friday, Senator Schumer vowed that the Senate has every intention to stick with the bill until the job is done.
The American Innovation and Competition Act is a central component to President Biden’s grand infrastructure plans. Its purpose is to reinvest in technology and research within the US to combat the recent globalization that has sent much innovative technology overseas – especially to China.
At the heart of the American Innovation and Competition Act is the Endless Frontier Act – a bill authored by Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and coauthored with Schumer.
Citing the rising challenge posed by China, Young believes the Endless Frontier Act will help the US remain competitive.
However, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has voiced deep concerns over the lack of safeguards built in to the language of the Endless Frontier Act. While the purpose is to ostensibly invest $200 Billion on technology and research within the US, there is nothing in the bill that prevents China from obtaining any of that money. Currently many of the universities where US research is conducted are already working closely with the Chinese Communist Party. Rubio fears that without the proper safeguards in place, the US may be handing some of those billions directly to the Chinese.
While Republican opposition succeeded in delaying the vote, it is unlikely there is enough opposition to prevent the bill from being passed on June 8.
