Foster Statement on House Passage of America COMPETES Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the America COMPETES Act:

"I was proud to vote for the America COMPETES Act – a historic investment in our nation's economic future and our position as the world's leader for science, technology, and innovation. This is an opportunity to strengthen our STEM workforce, reinforce our national security, enhance our semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, and provide America's national labs with the resources they need to maintain our world-class scientific infrastructure. As a scientist who spent 24 years working at one of our national labs, I know how important these investments will be to our scientists and their capacity for research, development, and innovation. I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to bring this legislation to President Biden's desk."

The America COMPETES Act includes five amendments offered by Congressman Foster:

Keep STEM Talent Act: Allows graduates with advanced STEM degrees to remain in the United States following their graduation and would remove barriers for STEM-educated international students who want to work in the United States.

Strengthening Digital Identity Act: Directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to create a new framework of standards to guide government agencies when providing digital identity verification services – placing an emphasis on privacy and security.

Restore and Modernize Our National Laboratories Act: Authorizes Congress to appropriate $6.1 billion each year over the next five years for the Department of Energy to prioritize maintenance projects at the national labs, including construction and enhancements of lab infrastructure. The funding could also support lab modernization programs and the promotion of environmentally responsible operations.

National Nuclear University Research Infrastructure Reinvestment Act: Enhances the educational and research capabilities of nuclear science and engineering programs to meet the workforce needs of the U.S. nuclear industry, and accelerate the development of advanced nuclear technologies in the U.S.

Allow the Office of Science to use new funding for its National Virtual Biotechnology Lab: Bolsters research and development related to the COVID-19 pandemic and long-term biothreats.

Foster is a Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight.

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