Tester Named to Powerful Leadership Role in Shepherding China Competition & American Jobs Bill Through Congress

U.S. Senator Jon Tester was named today to a key panel charged with ushering the America COMPETES Act— the critical American jobs and China competitiveness bill—through Congress. Tester was assigned as a “conferee” to a bipartisan, bicameral committee charged with working out the differences between the Senate and House versions of the legislation.

“If America is going to remain the leader of the free world and maintain our competitive edge over China, we’ve got to strengthen our supply chain and bring jobs back home from overseas,” said Tester. “This legislation has the potential to maintain our lead in the global marketplace for decades to come by boosting domestic manufacturing capacity, keeping jobs in America, and ensuring we are no longer reliant on foreign countries for essential goods. I’m looking forward to working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to craft a final resolution that will strengthen our economy and make us safer.”

The America COMPETES Act makes key investments that will maintain this country’s competitive edge over China for decades to come by bringing jobs home to Montana, investing in the productions of semiconductor chips, strengthen supply chains, and boost research and development.

Tester last served on a bipartisan, bicameral Conference Committee when he successfully struck a budget deal to fund the government and avoid a shutdown over border security funding in 2019. The final funding legislation closely mirrored the Senate Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill Tester crafted, providing almost $15 billion for Customs and Border Protection, including more than $600 million worth of investments in border technology.