06/17/2021

Senate-passed China Bill Uncertain in House

The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act faces a lengthy, unknown timeline

The Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, meant to bolster America’s technological and economic competition with China, faces a lengthy, unknown timeline in the House of Representatives.

House Democrats are advancing several of their own bills to bolster U.S. competitiveness in science and manufacturing and to address human-rights issues. POLITICO reports that, according to a Democratic leadership aide, the House is expected to take up those bills — which likely would be taken to the floor in pieces rather than as one package — in late June or July.

If and when these bills pass the House, negotiators from both chambers would need to compromise on differences between the House and Senate versions and vote on an updated, final bill for President Biden to sign into law.

“Hopefully, we can work that out so that the best of both bills will be available to us, so that we can ensure our competitive status vis-a-vis China in particular and also dealing with some of the nefarious things that China does to pursue unfair trade tactics with our country, including intellectual property theft,” said House Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

This article was provided to OSAE by ASAE's Power of A and Inroads.