[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3034-H3035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE MANUFACTURING FEASIBILITY ACT

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5390) to direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study 
on the feasibility of manufacturing in the United States products for 
critical infrastructure sectors, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5390

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Critical Infrastructure 
     Manufacturing Feasibility Act''.

     SEC. 2. STUDY ON CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE MANUFACTURING IN THE 
                   UNITED STATES.

       (a) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
     conduct a study to--
       (1) identify, within each critical infrastructure sector, 
     any product that is in high demand and is being imported due 
     to a manufacturing, material, or supply chain constraint in 
     the United States;
       (2) analyze the costs and benefits of manufacturing in the 
     United States any product identified under paragraph (1), 
     including any effects on--
       (A) jobs, employment rates, and labor conditions in the 
     United States; and
       (B) the cost of the product;
       (3) identify any product identified under paragraph (1) 
     that feasibly may be manufactured in the United States; and
       (4) analyze the feasibility of, and any impediments to, 
     manufacturing any product identified under paragraph (3) in--
       (A) a rural area;
       (B) an industrial park; or
       (C) an industrial park in a rural area.
       (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
       (1) submit to Congress a report containing the results of 
     the study required by subsection (a), with recommendations 
     relating to manufacturing in the United States products 
     identified under subsection (a)(3); and
       (2) make the report available to the public on the website 
     of the Department of Commerce.
       (c) Limitation on Authority.--This section may not be 
     construed to provide the Secretary of Commerce with authority 
     to compel a person to provide information described in this 
     section.
       (d) Definition of Critical Infrastructure Sector.--In this 
     section, the term ``critical infrastructure sector'' means 
     each of the 16 designated critical infrastructure sectors 
     identified in Presidential Policy Directive 21 of February 
     12, 2013 (Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and insert extraneous material in the Record on this particular bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Critical Infrastructure 
Manufacturing Feasibility Act, and I thank Representative Miller-Meeks, 
as well as Representatives Bucshon, Kuster, Schrier, and Spanberger for 
their leadership on this particular piece of legislation.
  Manufacturing remains an essential sector for the United States, not 
only in terms of economic stability and American job creation, but also 
to ensure global leadership in areas like developing and deploying 
emerging technologies.
  With that in mind, it is important that the United States examines 
where barriers exist for manufacturing in the U.S., in particular, 
manufacturing critical products that are in high demand in the United 
States. Failure to do so may cause companies offering products and 
services to become reliant upon countries like China for critical 
components and goods necessary for those products and services.
  Instead, we should be analyzing ways to feasibly manufacture these 
products here at home. I am strongly supportive of finding pathways 
forward to increase our capacity to manufacture products domestically 
here in the United States. In fact, I am the co-chair of the newly 
formed Domestic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Caucus with my colleague 
and good friend, Buddy Carter, and we are looking at ways to bring back 
American manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals here in the United States, 
as well.

                              {time}  1515

  I thank all of my colleagues here, but Dr. Miller-Meeks in 
particular, for their important work on H.R. 5390. This legislation 
will help the United States identify the pathway to secure leadership 
in domestic manufacturing and innovation and protect economic and 
national security.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this particular bill 
sponsored by my good friend, Dr. Miller-Meeks, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5390, the Critical 
Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act.
  Our Nation's manufacturing base was once the envy of the world, but 
unfortunately, it has faced steady headwinds for the last several 
decades. The United States' share of global manufacturing activity has 
declined from 28 percent in 2002 to less than 16 percent in 2021. 
Investments in America's small and medium manufacturers, the bedrock of 
our industrial might, has also declined over the last 20 years by more 
than $200 billion. This has also resulted in our domestic manufacturing 
base shedding more than 4 million jobs.
  Fortunately, the work we did last Congress in passing the bipartisan 
infrastructure law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Chips and 
Science Act are already helping to turn the tide. Our Nation added 
nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs during President Biden's first 20 
months in office. Total construction spending on manufacturing in this 
time has skyrocketed to nearly $200 billion per month, more than 
doubling prepandemic levels.
  H.R. 5390, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act, 
will further support America's manufacturing renaissance by 
commissioning the Department of Commerce to study the costs, benefits, 
and feasibility of manufacturing products within critical 
infrastructure sectors in the United States.
  I thank Representatives Miller-Meeks, Spanberger, Kuster, and Bucshon 
for their bipartisan work and leadership on this issue, and I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), my good friend.
  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative 
Bilirakis, for yielding me time to enthusiastically support my 
legislation, H.R. 5390, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing 
Feasibility Act.
  As we gather on the House floor, the urgency of this legislation has 
only intensified since its consideration in committee, and the 
challenges facing our manufacturing sector grow more acute. The global 
supply chain disruptions that have plagued us in recent years, 
especially during the pandemic,

[[Page H3035]]

have not abated. If anything, they have deepened.
  Record-level inflation and the specter of foreign adversaries 
exerting undue influence over our vital industries loom even larger. 
Our dependence on foreign sources for critical goods is a vulnerability 
we can ill afford. The concentration of supply chains in the hands of 
nations like China or the Chinese Communist Party leaves us exposed to 
the whims of geopolitical forces beyond our control. It imperils not 
just our economic prosperity but our national security, as well.
  In the face of these threats, the imperative for action is clear. We 
must strengthen our domestic supply chain resiliency, bolstering our 
capacity to manufacture essential goods right here at home.
  H.R. 5390 represents a crucial step in this direction. By directing 
the Secretary of Commerce to explore the feasibility of manufacturing 
critical infrastructure goods within our borders, particularly in rural 
communities like those in Iowa, this bill charts a course toward 
greater self-reliance and security.
  Let us be clear: This is not just about mitigating risk. It is about 
seizing opportunity. By investing in domestic manufacturing, we can 
revitalize communities, create good-paying jobs, and unleash the 
innovative potential of the American workforce.
  This legislation is not a panacea, nor does it claim to be. It is a 
starting point, a declaration of our intent to reclaim control over our 
economic destiny. It is a vital starting point, one that merits our 
full-throated support.
  I am proud to have joined forces with my colleagues in introducing 
this bipartisan bill. Let us stand together in support of H.R. 5390, 
and in doing so, let us reaffirm our commitment to the strength and 
resilience of the American economy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this 
critical legislation.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Bucshon), a physician who we are going to miss greatly. He 
has done a great job on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and he is a 
great friend.
  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Bilirakis for those kind 
remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Dr. Miller-Meeks' bill, the 
Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act, which I am proud 
to co-lead.
  Indiana is an extremely manufacturing-intensive State, home to more 
than 546,000 manufacturing jobs. This means that supply chain 
disruptions in recent years have been especially damaging for the 
Hoosier State.
  This bipartisan legislation will direct the Department of Commerce to 
study which products in critical sectors are being imported due to 
manufacturing and supply chain constraints. Based on this study, the 
Department will develop recommendations on how to stand up production 
capabilities in the U.S. in rural areas. Expanding our manufacturing 
capabilities in rural areas will help prevent supply chain shocks from 
occurring.
  I thank Dr. Miller-Meeks and other sponsors of this bill for their 
leadership, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this important 
legislation.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask that we support this important 
legislation on both sides of the aisle, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this 
critical piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5390.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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