Washington (July 27, 2022) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today commended the passage of his Bioeconomy Research and Development Act, as well as language from his Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act of 2021, as part of the CHIPS Act. The Bioeconomy Research and Development Act would strengthen America’s bioeconomy by establishing an initiative and interagency committee to advance and coordinate independent engineering biology efforts across federal agencies. The language from the Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act of 2021 that was included the CHIPS Act would ensure clean technology manufacturing, development, and deployment are a priority for determining grants to eligible consortia. 

“Massachusetts is home to some of the greatest research minds and institutions in the world,” Senator Markey said. “The last year has taught us the importance of investing in our research and researchers as we have confronted the gravest threat to public health in a century and developed life-saving treatments and vaccines in record time. Today’s passage of my legislative provisions is critical to supporting the hundreds of thousands of workers in the research field and will ensure that the United States continues our global scientific leadership.”

The Bioeconomy Research and Development Act, originally introduced last year and passed out of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, was reintroduced in April, alongside Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V).

The Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act of 2021 was reintroduced by Senator Markey and Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) in April 2021. 

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