Young, Gallagher unveil Endless Frontier Act to strengthen U.S. tech leadership, take on China

To bolster national security, U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) and U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) this week introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would authorize $110 billion to boost American technological research and development, education and training, supply chains, and the broader United States innovation ecosystem.

“We face a pivotal time in history. Right now, the Chinese Communist Party is emphasizing to the world that the United States is a divided nation,” Sen. Young said. “This is a rare opportunity to show the authoritarians in Beijing, and the rest of the world, that when it comes to our national security, and most importantly our China policy, we are united.” 

Sen. Young is the lead original cosponsor of the Endless Frontier Act, S. 1260, which is sponsored by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and would establish a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the National Science Foundation (NSF), according to the text of the bill. In the U.S. House, Rep. Gallagher introduced the same-named version of the bill, H.R. 6978, along with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA).

“Just as we did at the outset of the Cold War, we have to substantially increase federal investment in technologies essential for our national survival,” Rep. Gallagher said. “This bill makes a down payment on our national leadership and will translate into new American companies, manufacturing and high-tech jobs, and opportunities for the regions across the country – most importantly the Midwest – to become a global center of emerging industry – all while ensuring that America, and not the Chinese Communist Party, dominates the critical technologies of the future.”

If enacted, S. 1260 also would establish a regional technology hub program; require a strategy and report on economic security, science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and job creation; and establish a critical supply chain resiliency program, according to the bill’s text.

“The Endless Frontier Act is our path forward,” added Sen. Young. “I’ve worked with my colleagues to ensure the Endless Frontier Act will help invest in innovative small businesses that create jobs, invest in critical emerging technologies, and put America in a position to outgrow, out-innovate, and out-compete our leading geopolitical foe.”

S. 1260 would provide the new Technology and Innovation Directorate within NSF with $100 billion over five years to invest in basic and advanced research, commercialization, and education and training programs in technology areas critical to national leadership, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Young’s office.

An additional $10 billion would be authorized at the U.S. Commerce Department to support regional technology strategies and to designate at least 10 regional technology hubs, awarding funds for comprehensive investment initiatives that position regions across the country as global centers for the research, development, entrepreneurship, and manufacturing of new key technologies, the summary says.

The measure also would establish a new Supply Chain Resiliency and Crisis Response Program with the national security mission of strengthening critical technology supply chains in the U.S. and with global allies and partners.

Among the lawmakers who joined Sen. Young in introducing S. 1260 are U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Rob Portman (R-OH), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Roy Blunt (R-MO). The House version of the bill was cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Mike Turner (R-OH), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and John Katko (R-NY).