Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Need To Pass The Bipartisan U.S. Innovation And Competition Act

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding the need to pass the bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act to lay the foundation for the next century of American economic leadership. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

The Senate continues to work on the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, legislation that will lay the foundation for the next century of American economic leadership.

I have spoken a lot about the substance of the bill, so this morning I want to reinforce how bipartisan and inclusive this bill is. It is the product of at least half a dozen Senate Committees, meaning that nearly every single member of the Senate has their fingerprints on this bill in one way or another. The two pieces of legislation that form the core of the bill, the Endless Frontier Act and the Strategic Competition Act, passed out of committee on overwhelmingly bipartisan votes: 24-4 in the Commerce Committee and 21-1 in the Foreign Relations Committee.

That kind of bipartisanship— almost unanimous support in multiple Senate committees—is rare when it comes to major legislation. It goes to show just how bipartisan this issue, and this legislation, is.

Literally dozens of bipartisan amendments were added to the bill before it ever reached the floor.

Here on the floor, we are going to continue working through a series of amendments from both sides. With such a depth of cooperation and consensus between our two parties, there is no reason we can’t wrap up this bill this week and achieve a strong result for our country.

Leader McConnell should be welcoming this bipartisanship as we move forward on the bill.

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