Data for Progress Joins Leader Schumer, Science and Labor Advocates at N.Y Press Conference Urging for Swift Passage of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act

Today, Data for Progress Political Director Marcela Mulholland joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and New York advocates of science, labor, and innovation in a press conference at the Advanced Science and Research Center, CUNY, to champion the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and urge Congress to act swiftly to pass the legislation.

"The bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act would provide a once-in-a-generation investment in the future of our economy," said Marcela Mulholland, Political Director of Data for Progress. "This critical piece of legislation is not only a win for our economy -- but a slam dunk for lawmakers, as a majority of American voters support investments that would reinforce and make resilient the future of our economy."

A recent report from Data for Progress finds USICA would create or preserve an estimated 2.6 million to 3 million jobs across the country, generating an added $44 billion to $51 billion per year to U.S. GDP over the next five years.

Previous Data for Progress polling from January finds a bipartisan majority of voters support the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act by a +57-point margin. Support includes Democrats by +75 points, Independents by +58 points, and Republicans by +36 points.

Mulholland's full remarks as delivered can be read below:

Majority Leader Schumer, it is a pleasure to join you and fellow advocates today as we urge Congress to pass critical manufacturing legislation. The coronavirus pandemic has shown the clear need to build up our manufacturing base, strengthen our supply chains, and bring jobs back to the United States.

The bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, or USICA, would provide a once-in-a-generation investment in the future of our economy. Its critical investments would encourage economic growth that would not only create new, good-paying jobs for American workers, but also preserve existing jobs. A new report from our team at Data for Progress finds USICA would create or preserve an estimated two and a half to three million American jobs. That includes over one hundred and seventy thousand jobs right here in the state of New York.

This critical piece of legislation is not only a win for our economy -- but a political slam dunk for lawmakers, as a majority of American voters support investments that would reinforce and make resilient the future of our economy. Our polling finds three in four voters support such bipartisan competition legislation. Support includes Independent voters by a fifty-eight point margin and Republicans by a thirty-six point margin.

It is time for Congress to move swiftly to pass USICA -- a move that would supercharge our economy, encourage innovation and invest in our study of science, the endless frontier.