Senate Passes Endless Frontiers Act to Boost U.S. Innovation

June 11, 2021

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate passed the Endless Frontier Act to boost U.S. innovation and out-compete China. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 68-32. The bill would provide $120 billion to the NSF, DOE and NASA to support research and develoopment in key technology areas critical to our national security, including biotechnology and medical devices.

A number of amendments offered by Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), who supported the bill, were accepted. Among them was an amendment to directi the U.S. Trade Representative to enter negotiations with our allies to stop the importation of goods made with stolen intellectual property into the U.S. and allied countries.

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), while supporting the need to stay ahead of China, opposed the bill saying in a speech during debate on the bill that “the strategy of the Endless Frontier Act is rooted in the belief that our markets have failed us, and the only means by which we can jumpstart our economy and create innovation is by trusting in federal government bureaucrats. Instead of chilling innovation and competition, we ought to decentralize power and champion trust in the private sector.”

A proposal was also added to establish an online toolkit and database to support supply chain mapping.

The bill now heads to the House where it’s fate is uncertain.