05.25.21

Durbin Urges Senate To Support Bipartisan U.S. Innovation And Competition Act

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today encouraged his Senate colleagues to support the bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, the broader competitiveness package and substitute amendment to the bipartisan Endless Frontier Act.  The legislation represents the largest investment in U.S. science and technology leadership since the Apollo era.  It will authorize more than $100 billion over five years to support breakthrough scientific discovery and technological innovation in 10 key areas that are vital to building an innovation economy and winning the good-jobs race for the 21st century.

“I can't think of anything that we can do that is more bipartisan and would be accepted by the American people than the knowledge that we are going to continue to encourage and subsidize…scientists and researchers to move us forward in innovation and technology,” Durbin said.

During his speech, Durbin noted that the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 will also strengthen the security of essential supply chains, and our ability to solve supply-chain disruptions during crises.  This will benefit cities like Belvidere, Illinois.  In late March, the Stellantis plant in Belvidere, which assembles Jeep Cherokees, was forced to shut down because of the global shortage of microchips.  And earlier this month, the company announced that the plant will be forced to shut down one if its two production lines in late July—again because of microchip shortages. 

“This bill makes a strategic investment that will help to counter the growing threat posed by the rampant development of China's economy. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting these important provisions to boost our domestic supply chain and support American jobs,” Durbin concluded. “I believe in the brains and the brawn of American workers. I believe they are productive people and that our researchers can lead the world, as they have over and over again, if we trust them and we invest in them.”

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

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