Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2022

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the CHIPS and Science Act, and I thank Chairwoman Johnson for her leadership in bringing this bill to the floor today.

The pandemic has underscored how important our domestic semiconductor supply chain is to transportation, the energy sector, national security, and scientific advancement. With this bill, we will make a vital investment in domestic manufacturing and in workers in Oregon and across the country.

I am also grateful that this legislation includes two of my bipartisan bills. I am the co-chair of the House Oceans Caucus, and my Coastal and Ocean Acidification Research and Innovation Act will help protect the health of our ocean while supporting coastal resiliency. Acidification of the ocean and estuaries destabilizes coastal communities, causing long-term economic harm. This bill will strengthen investments in research and monitoring, provide resources to mitigate, and increase our understanding of the socioeconomic consequences of inaction.

My Building STEAM Education Act will expand resources and grant opportunities to integrate art and design into STEM education programs, which will better engage students, prepare an innovative workforce full of creative and critical thinkers, and enhance the diversity of the STEM workforce.

Overall, Mr. Speaker, the CHIPS and Science Act will grow U.S. leadership, strengthen our scientific enterprise, bolster research and development, grow our domestic semiconductor manufacturing base, and on-shore critical supply chains. Importantly, it will also support workers and create many quality jobs in Oregon and across the country.

I thank the tireless committee staff for all of their work to bring this bill to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all of my colleagues to put American leadership above politics and support this important bipartisan bill.

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