A bill to counteract growing competitive pressure from the Chinese Communist Party has moved one step closer to final passage in the U.S. Senate. Senators voted 86 to 11 Monday (May 17) to end the lengthy debate surrounding The Endless Frontier Act and move the bill forward. The bill would authorize more than $110 billion over five years for basic and advanced technology research.
The bill would allocate the majority of the authorized funding, or $100 billion, to invest in basic and advanced technology research, commercialization of research results, and education and training programs in key technology areas such as artificial intelligence.
According to Senate rules, any member of the Senate can propose an intention to hold a lengthy debate on a bill, thus blocking its passage in this way. A 60-vote “supermajority” is required for the Senate to stop this endless debate process. This time, the vote was far more than 60 votes.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said the Senate will debate the bill for one or two weeks starting Tuesday.
Schumer said, “We either have a world where the Communist Party of China decides the rules of the road for 5G, artificial intelligence and quantum computing — or we can make sure the U.S. gets a head start.” He called it “a once-in-a-generation investment in American science and American technology.”
The bill to be considered by senators includes $2 billion to boost semiconductor production and research in the automotive and defense sectors, but Reuters reports that a group of senators is also drafting provisions to include $52 billion for chips in the bill, according to a draft proposal for the package.
The final package is likely to include other China-related bills.
Schumer said the bill “would strengthen the weaknesses of our economy,” such as semiconductors.
The Senate Commerce Committee passed the bill last Wednesday (May 12) by a vote of 24 to 4.
The White House on Monday expressed support for the Endless Frontier Act.
Republican Sen. Steve Daines ( Steve Daines) said he will introduce an amendment this week to include production of critical minerals as part of a new program in the bill to help the U.S. maintain global competitiveness.
While negotiations are ongoing, Monday’s overwhelming majority showed that the prospects for final agreement and passage of the bill, which has bipartisan support, look good.
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