WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) supported House passage of the America COMPETES Act, bold legislation that boosts U.S. global competitiveness and economic growth by investing in manufacturing and jobs, advancing technology leadership, building effective global diplomacy and investing in U.S. students and the workforce. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a final vote of 222 to 210.

“The United States must update its playbook to better compete with China and the rest of the world,” said Larsen, Co-Chair of the bipartisan U.S.-China Working Group and author of an updated China White Paper. “This critical bill invests in manufacturing, education, technology and diplomacy to create more U.S. jobs, foster economic opportunity, keep supply chains moving and ensure the United States remains a leader on the world stage.”

Specifically, the America COMPETES Act includes several provisions to boost U.S. competitiveness and global leadership consistent with Rep. Larsen’s White Paper:

• Drives U.S. Manufacturing of Critically-Needed Semiconductors – The bill includes $52 billion to incentivize private-sector investments and continued U.S. leadership in semiconductor fabrication and will help address supply chain disruptions and ensure more semiconductors are produced in the United States.

• Strengthens the U.S. Supply Chain – The bill includes $45 billion to improve U.S. supply chains and strengthen the economy and national security by preventing shortages of critical goods and ensuring more goods are made in the United States.

• Advances U.S. Scientific Research, Technology and Innovation – The bill includes major new solutions-driven investments in innovation and scientific research, making the kind of investments that will lead to breakthrough discoveries.

• Builds Effective Global Diplomacy – The bill includes several provisions to strengthen and promote U.S. global leadership, including investments in partnerships and alliances, expansion of diplomacy and promotion of human rights.

In addition, Rep. Larsen successfully amended the bill to:

Restore U.S. Leadership on Human Rights

• Larsen secured a provision to exempt residents of Xinjiang from the annual U.S. refugee admission cap of 125,000 refugees, as of 2022. Larsen’s provision ensures admission of Uyghur refugees to the United States does not inadvertently take away opportunities from other vulnerable refugee groups from other parts of the world.
• Last year, Larsen urged President Biden to raise the U.S. refugee cap to at least 200,000 and supported efforts to resettle refugees in the U.S., including in Washington state’s Second Congressional District.

Invest in High-Quality Digital Infrastructure

• Larsen secured a provision to prioritize U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) support for digital infrastructure projects worldwide to increase the availability of high-quality options for these projects to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• The DFC plays an important role in financing commercially viable digital infrastructure projects overseas, including data centers in South Africa and expansion of wireless networks in The Gambia. However, less than 10 percent of DFC financing went to technology and infrastructure projects in 2020.

Strengthen Fulbright Exchanges

• Larsen secured a provision with Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08) to restore Fulbright exchanges with China to build U.S. expertise on China, strengthen people-to-people ties, and give Chinese participants a chance to experience the real U.S. and the benefits of academic freedom.

Larsen has been a leading voice for economic and strategic engagement in the Asia-Pacific region and a proponent of advancing U.S. democratic values worldwide. He recently outlined a comprehensive China strategy that includes more than 100 recommendations for Congress and the Biden administration to boost U.S. competitiveness and enhance U.S. global leadership. To read Larsen’s China White Paper, click here.

To read a summary of the America COMPETES Act, click here.

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