Senate tech bill to counter China runs into GOP opposition

The Senate is set to approve a big innovation bill aimed at making the U.S. more competitive with China and other countries

WASHINGTON -- A sweeping Senate bill aimed at making the United States more competitive with China and other countries, including $50 billion in emergency funds to shore up domestic computer chip manufacturing, headed toward final votes on Friday despite a last-minute attempt by a handful of Republican senators to halt it. The American Innovation and Competition Act, an effort to boost scientific research and development, is key to President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plans. Its passage was still expected despite the GOP efforts to impede it, but timing was uncertain as the Senate reopened Friday morning after a nearly round-the clock session. “We have every intention of sticking it out until the job is done,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said as he opened the chamber. The emerging final product has enjoyed broad, bipartisan support and would be one of the more comprehensive investments in U.S. research and development in recent years as the country tries to bolster and rebuild home state industries that have shifted overseas during the era of globalization.