River Bend Times

U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Kim Schrier have reintroduced the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act in the 119th Congress. This bipartisan bill mandates a study by the Secretary of Commerce to evaluate the feasibility of manufacturing critical infrastructure goods domestically, focusing on rural communities that could support such production.

"We can no longer allow adversarial nations, like China, to control the flow of goods and disrupt our economy," stated Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. "This bill takes a proactive step to assess how we can expand American manufacturing, particularly in rural areas, to protect our supply chains and strengthen our economy."

Congresswoman Schrier emphasized the importance of understanding which products should be manufactured in the U.S., stating, "We cannot remain dependent on just a handful of other countries for critical parts and products. I'm proud to introduce this commonsense, bipartisan bill that will allow us to make evidence-based, thoughtful decisions about the role domestic manufacturing will play in the years ahead."

Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Brett Guthrie highlighted the significance of strengthening critical infrastructure against threats from adversaries. He remarked, "This bill explores ways to grow our economy and enhance supply chain resiliency, especially in our critical industries. I thank Rep. Miller-Meeks for her leadership."

Initially introduced in the 118th Congress, this legislation requires an assessment of high-demand imported infrastructure products and their potential domestic production costs. The Secretary's findings are expected within 18 months after enactment.