Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

June 28, 2021

In March, I outlined my vision for how we can grow our economy for all workers through the American Jobs Plan, and today the House took an important step in moving that forward by advancing two bipartisan bills. Led by Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and Ranking Member Frank Lucas, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act and the Department of Energy Science for the Future Act will make vital investments in R&D, science, and our economic competitiveness, and reaffirm the role of science in helping us solve major challenges like the climate crisis.

Manufacturing, and the innovation fueling it, are the backbone of the American economy, and they're powered by the American workers and unions who help build our middle class and the strongest, most dynamic economy in the world. But decades of neglect and disinvestment have left us at a competitive disadvantage as countries across the globe, like China, have poured money and focus into new technologies and industries, leaving us at real risk of being left behind.

We need historicâonce in a generationâinvestments in our competitiveness that support R&D, innovation, our semiconductor industry, and advanced manufacturing to grow our economy and create good-paying middle class jobs in every corner of America. By rebuilding those domestic sources of strength, we can outcompete China and the rest of the world for years to come.

I was pleased to see the Senate pass crucially important investments in our domestic strength through the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act with massive bipartisan support, and I'm heartened today to see the House pass similar bipartisan investments in R&D and science tonight. These pieces of legislationâand the agreement reached on the infrastructure framework last weekâshow the American people, and the world, that we're capable of coming together as a country and setting aside our differences to make transformational investments that will strengthen us both at home and abroad. My administration looks forward to continuing to work with the House and the Senate in producing a final bill I can sign.

NOTE: The statement referred to H.R. 2225, H.R. 3593, and S. 1260.

Categories: Statements by the President : Department of Energy Science for the Future Act, House of Representatives passage; Statements by the President : National Science Foundation for the Future Act, House of Representatives passage.

Names: Johnson, Eddie Bernice; Lucas, Frank D.

Subjects: Business and industry : Manufacturing industry :: Advanced manufacturing, promotion efforts; Business and industry : Manufacturing industry :: Strengthening efforts; China : Economic growth and development; Congress : Bipartisanship; Congress : House of Representatives :: Science, Space, and Technology Committee; Economy, national : Strengthening efforts; Employment and unemployment : Job creation and growth; Environment : Climate change; Infrastructure, national improvement efforts; Labor issues : Unions :: Labor movement and organized labor; Legislation, proposed : Department of Energy Science for the Future Act; Legislation, proposed : Science Foundation for the Future Act; Legislation, proposed

: U.S. Innovation and Competition Act; Science and technology : Research and development.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100542.