(TheLibertyRevolution.com)- The vote on the American Innovation and Competition Act ,the Senate’s massive bill boosting domestic tech manufacturing and research, was tabled on Friday after several Republican Senators made last-minute attempts to halt the vote.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had hoped to pass the bill prior to the Senate’s Memorial Day recess. But Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) stood in the way.
Using his debate time to introduce amendments to the bill while forcing the Senate to take up long procedural votes, Johnson dragged out the process until late into Thursday night.
After Johnson delayed voting, several other Senators also raised objections to proceeding on the final vote. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rick Scott (R-FL) argued for more time to review amendments and requested a delay on voting.
While the bill enjoys bipartisan support, the objections centered on the immense number of amendments that ballooned the bill to a staggering 2,400 pages. Johnson, along with other Republican Senators demanded more time to review all the revisions added in order to make changes.
As the debate dragged on into the wee hours of Thursday night and because he wanted the Senate to take up the January 6 Commission vote before the recess, Senator Schumer had no choice but to reschedule the vote for June 8.
Friday morning in opening the Senate session, Schumer vowed that after all the hard work on creating the American Innovation and Competition Act, the Senate would stick it out and get it passed despite the opposition.
The American Innovation and Competition Act would be one of the most comprehensive investments in U.S. research and development in years and is a vital component of President Biden’s infrastructure agenda.
Ostensibly seen as a counter to China’s growing influence in research and tech, some Republicans have valid concerns over not only its expanded scope, but also its lack of safeguards to prevent the Chinese from benefitting from the funding allotted in the bill.
Republicans, however, are not the only ones objecting to the bill. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has voiced opposition to a carve-out specifically in place to benefit Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
Despite the delay, it is believed that the American Innovation and Competition Act will survive the vote on June 8.
