Sweeping Innovation Bill Crosses the Finish Line

Before recessing for the remainder of summer, Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act (H.R. 4346) in late July. This collection of bills has taken many forms over the last two years and has gone by many different names, including the Endless Frontier Act, America COMPETES Act, and U.S. Innovation and Competition Act). The final version gained traction over the last few months following significant disruption to the global microelectronics supply chain resulting from the ongoing pandemic. These concerns reinvigorated Congressional interest in innovation and competitiveness legislation, which led to the CHIPS and Science Act that also incorporates ambitious funding targets and other policy proposals for shoring up U.S. science agencies, including the National Science Foundation. The package also includes provisions related research security.

Passage of the CHIPS and Science Act is a major bipartisan victory for the oft-split Congress and is the first major science and innovation bill enacted in years. COSSA will be providing an in-depth look at the final bill in the coming weeks.