House Passes Miller-Meeks Bill to Boost Domestic Manufacturing

Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives tonight passed the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act, introduced by Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Kim Schrier (D-WA). The bipartisan legislation directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study on the feasibility of manufacturing more critical infrastructure goods in the United States, with a focus on identifying rural communities best suited to support domestic production.

The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

"With House passage of my bill HR 1721, we are now one step closer to getting this critical bill to President Trump’s desk and advancing his America First priorities,” said Rep. Miller-Meeks. “We can no longer allow adversarial nations, like China, to control the flow of goods and disrupt our economy. 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. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation that would greatly benefit the Hawkeye State.”

"The Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act is an important step toward revitalizing rural economies and strengthening America's supply chains," said Emily Benjamin, President & CEO of Lee County Economic Development Group. "While urban areas have continued to grow, many rural communities have faced population decline, compounding challenges such as workforce shortages, underutilized infrastructure, and disinvestment. This legislation recognizes the untapped potential of rural America to drive economic growth, create quality jobs, and bolster the nation’s critical infrastructure manufacturing capacity. We appreciate Congresswoman Miller-Meeks’ leadership in championing policies that create real opportunities for communities like Lee County."

“A data driven approach to the reshoring manufacturing into the United States, particularly in communities like the Quad Cities, is critical to the long-term success of the U.S. economy," said Ryan Sempf, Executive Director of Government Affairs at the Quad Cities Chamber. "We appreciate Congresswoman Miller-Meeks proactively fighting to ensure America and the Quad Cities have the information necessary to compete for investment in critical supply chain industries”

“We need a clear understanding of what products can and should be manufactured in the United States. We cannot remain dependent on just a handful of other countries for critical parts and products," said Congresswoman Schrier. "That's why I was proud to introduce this commonsense, bipartisan bill with Congresswoman Miller Meeks that will allow us to make evidence-based, thoughtful decisions about the role domestic manufacturing will play in the years ahead, and I am thrilled to see it pass the House."

Background:

First introduced in the 118th Congress, The Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to study which high-demand critical infrastructure products are currently imported, assess the costs of domestic production, and evaluate the feasibility of manufacturing these goods in rural communities and industrial parks. The findings must be reported to Congress within 18 months of enactment.

Click HERE to read the bill text for H.R. 1721, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act