[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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