Senator Murray Announced As Key Negotiator On Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Supply Chains, Boost American Competitiveness

Senator Murray: “Washington state families cannot rely on foreign competitors to make a brighter future possible for our country—we have to build it in America. That’s what this bipartisan bill is about.”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after being announced as a member of the conference committee which will negotiate the differences between the Senate-passed United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the House-passed America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength (COMPETES) Act and work toward the final passage of legislation to improve America’s global competitiveness, strengthen supply chains, support innovation, bring down prices, and provide good-paying jobs.

“Washington state is already the home of premier research institutions, technology and aerospace leaders, and growers and producers that are constantly competing on the world stage—and as a member of the conference committee I’ll be a voice for Washington state to make sure we keep our competitive edge,” said Senator Murray.

“Washington state families cannot rely on foreign competitors to make a brighter future possible for our country—we have to build it in America. That’s what this bipartisan bill is about, making sure our nation isn’t just competitive, but is the global leader when it comes to developing and manufacturing the technologies of the present and the future,” continued Senator Murray. “A more competitive U.S. economy means more good-paying jobs for workers from Seattle to Spokane; new markets for our producers and small businesses in the Yakima Valley and Eastern Washington; better opportunities for students and workers interested in careers in STEM, manufacturing, and other fields of the future; and reliable supply chains for semiconductors, medical products, and more. By strengthening our supply chains and investing in American-made manufacturing, families in Washington state will see lower costs on store shelves—creating good-paying jobs and lowering costs is what this is all about.”

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