Mandates a study on the feasibility of manufacturing critical infrastructure products in the U.S. to reduce reliance on imports and boost domestic job creation.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Representative
IA-1
The Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act requires the Secretary of Commerce to study and report on the feasibility of manufacturing critical infrastructure products in the United States, analyzing the costs, benefits, and potential for domestic production in areas such as rural communities and industrial parks. The study will identify high-demand imported products and provide recommendations to Congress on how to bolster domestic manufacturing. The goal is to enhance U.S. jobs, employment rates, and supply chains within critical infrastructure sectors.
New Bill Orders 1-Year Study on Bringing Critical Manufacturing Back to the U.S.
This bill, the 'Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act,' kicks off a deep dive into whether essential products we currently import could actually be made right here in the United States. Specifically, it directs the Secretary of Commerce to launch a study within one year to figure this out. The goal is to get a clear picture of the potential for boosting domestic manufacturing for goods vital to our nation's core functions.
Mapping the 'Made in America' Potential
So, what exactly will this study look at? It's tasked with identifying high-demand products across 16 critical infrastructure sectors – think energy, communications, transportation, healthcare – that we're currently buying from overseas due to domestic manufacturing hurdles. These sectors are the ones defined way back in a 2013 policy directive (PPD-21) as essential to national security, economy, and public health. The study needs to weigh the pros and cons of making these items stateside, considering impacts on U.S. jobs, wages, working conditions, and the final cost of the products. Crucially, it will assess which products realistically could be manufactured domestically. It also specifically requires looking into the feasibility of setting up shop in rural areas or industrial parks, pinpointing any roadblocks.
Just the Facts: Report Due in 18 Months
This isn't just research for the sake of research. Within 18 months, the Secretary of Commerce has to deliver a report to Congress detailing the study's findings. This report will include recommendations on how the U.S. could start manufacturing the products identified as feasible. Importantly, this report won't just sit on a shelf in D.C.; it's required to be made public on the Department of Commerce website, so anyone can see the results. One key detail tucked into the bill (Sec. 2) is that while the government will be gathering information, it cannot force any person or company to provide data for the study. It relies on voluntary cooperation.