US House passes bill to compete with China in tech, science

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - The House of Representatives on Friday passed a bill that would make the US more competitive against countries like China in technology, scientific research and manufacturing.

The America COMPETES Act of 2022 legislation, which passed the chamber with a 222-210 vote, aims to respond to major economic issues such as current supply chain disruptions and the global chip crisis.

"The pandemic damaged and exposed issues in our nation’s supply chain that are now driving inflation and raising the costs of crucial goods such as groceries, gas, and cars for New Jersey families," New Jersey congressman Mikie Sherrill said in a statement.

The bill, which contains numerous provisions written by Sherrill, will increase the US' competitiveness with China and bolster research and development initiatives critical to innovation and growth, she said.

The measure was approved as China kicked off the Winter Olympics in Beijing, for which many western countries refused to send delegations amid allegations of human rights violations in the Xinjiang region.