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WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Paul D. Tonko today was announced as one of the House conferees set to negotiate differences between the Senate’s United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the House-passed America COMPETES Act.

“For years, I’ve fought hard to advance legislation that strengthens our supply chains, supports manufacturing, and boosts American competitiveness,” Congressman Tonko said. “I was proud to stand at the forefront of these efforts as we passed the America COMPETES Act, a transformative package that included my Micro Act, which would empower the Department of Energy to drive up research and development of microelectronics, as well as significant funding for the historic CHIPS for America Act. Our Capital Region is a manufacturing hub, and these federal investments will have a profound impact and enable our region to lead the nation and world in developing innovative new technologies in this field. I am honored to be named as a conferee and stand ready to help lead negotiations between the House and Senate and ensure that we deliver a comprehensive, transformative bill that invests strongly in American jobs and secures our competitiveness abroad.”

A longtime champion in the push to build out American competitiveness, Tonko authored a number of provisions passed in the America COMPETES Act, including the bipartisan Micro Act, which would require the Department of Energy to establish a program on the development, demonstration, and commercial application of microelectronics. The Micro Act would also empower DOE to establish up to four Microelectronics Science Research Centers to conduct research addressing foundational challenges in the design, development, and fabrication of microelectronics.

The COMPETES Act also includes Tonko’s H.R.2635, the Restoring Offshore Wind Opportunities Act, which overturns an arbitrary Trump-era ban on new offshore wind leases and jumpstarts clean energy development, as well as H.R.4676, the State Industrial Competitiveness Act that provides assistance to states for the development, implementation, improvement, or expansion of a flex-tech energy program to enhance manufacturing competitiveness, and for other purposes.

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