The publication is reproduced in full below:
UNITED STATES INNOVATION AND COMPETITION ACT OF 2021
Mr. WARNOCK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following letters be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
April 27, 2022. Hon. Raphael Warnock, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Warnock: As a business organization focused on a vibrant economy, the Metro Atlanta Chamber encourages you to support the INFORM Consumers Act as part of the bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021. This will ensure legitimate businesses and consumers in Georgia and across the country are better protected.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber represents businesses, colleges and universities, and nonprofits across the 29-county region that makes up the nation's ninth largest market. As a more than 160-year-old organization, we strive to ensure that Georgia maintains its status as the number one state to do business.
In recent years, Georgia shoppers have been provided access to a vast network of affordable on line products and convenient, fast delivery. Georgia retailers are proud of the supply chain that has allowed for this, especially when our economy was upended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Families could depend on Georgia retailers that were essential in keeping our state open for business and our communities safe. However, the rapid growth of online shopping has provided new opportunities for criminals and fraudsters--with many of the latter located in China--to peddle cheap counterfeits and stolen products designed to undercut American manufacturers and local retailers.
The INFORM Consumers Act will help stop unsafe counterfeit products such as N95 masks, toys, and automobile parts from being sold in significant quantities, which are putting Georgia consumers at risk. Today, illegitimate imports cost domestic retailers at least $54.1 billion in sales. We can only expect this number to grow as Russia scraps trademark protections amid the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe and joins China as one of the most egregious intellectual property offenders.
Meanwhile, sophisticated rings of criminals are brazenly stealing merchandise off the shelves of retail store shelves and selling these items online using fake screennames and bogus business accounts. In addition to putting retail workers and customers in harm's way, these thieves pose a serious economic threat. Research suggests that retail theft has cost retailers across the nation $68.9 billion in losses. Congress must address these growing problems before additional consumers or legitimate American businesses pay the price. The common-sense measures of the INFORM Consumers Act, introduced by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in the Senate, and Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) in the House will make it harder for criminal networks and con artists from around the globe to use the anonymity of online marketplaces to dupe consumers with counterfeit and stolen products.
INFORM would require online marketplaces to verify high- volume sellers on their platforms and provides consumers with a method to contact sellers if they suspect they have been ripped off and sold a fake, broken, or dangerous item. This bill would not in any way inhibit the small businesses in Georgia that conduct legitimate commerce on marketplaces every day, and it protects the personal information of small sellers. That's why it has united consumer groups, manufacturers, retailers, and marketplaces who want to protect American consumers from stolen, fake, and dangerous products.
This simple, bipartisan measure will bring transparency and accountability to third-party sellers online and make it harder for criminals and counterfeiters to harm local businesses and consumers. On behalf of Georgia retailers--and especially for our employees and customers--we strongly urge you to support the INFORM Consumers Act and include it as part of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021.
Sincerely,
Katie Kirkpatrick, P.E., President and Chief Executive Officer.
____
April 27, 2022. Hon. Senator Raphael Warnock, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Warnock: In recent years, Georgia shoppers have been provided access to a vast network of affordable online products and convenient, fast delivery. Georgia retailers are proud of the supply chain that has allowed for this, especially when our economy was upended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Families could depend on the many retailers that were essential in keeping our state open for business and our communities safe.
However, the rapid growth of online shopping has provided new opportunities for criminals and fraudsters--with many of the latter located in China--to peddle cheap counterfeits and stolen products designed to undercut American manufacturers and local retailers. Congress has the ability to act to ensure legitimate businesses and consumers in Georgia and across the country are better protected, we urge you to include the INFORM Consumers Act as part of the bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021.
The INFORM Consumers Act will help stop unsafe counterfeit products such as N95 masks, toys, and automobile parts from being sold in significant quantities, which are putting Georgia consumers at risk. Today, illegitimate imports cost domestic retailers at least $54.1 billion in sales. We can only expect this number to grow as Russia scraps trademark protections amid the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe and joins China as one of the most egregious intellectual property offenders.
Meanwhile, sophisticated rings of criminals are brazenly stealing merchandise off the shelves of retail store shelves and selling these items online using fake screennames and bogus business accounts. In addition to putting retail workers and customers in harm's way, these thieves pose a serious economic threat. Research suggests that retail theft has cost retailers across the nation $68.9 billion in losses.
Congress must address these growing problems before additional consumers or legitimate American businesses pay the price. The common-sense measures of the INFORM Consumers Act, introduced by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in the Senate, and Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) in the House will make it harder for criminal networks and con artists from around the globe to use the anonymity of online marketplaces to dupe consumers with counterfeit and stolen products.
INFORM would require online marketplaces to verify high- volume sellers on their platforms and provides consumers with a method to contact sellers if they suspect they have been ripped off and sold a fake, broken, or dangerous item. This bill would not in any way inhibit the small businesses in Georgia that conduct legitimate commerce on marketplaces every day, and it protects the personal information of small sellers. That's why it has united consumer groups, manufacturers, retailers, and marketplaces who want to protect American consumers from stolen, fake, and dangerous products.
This simple, bipartisan measure will bring transparency and accountability to third-party sellers online and make it harder for criminals and counterfeiters to harm local businesses and consumers. On behalf of Georgia retailers--and especially for our employees and customers--we strongly urge you to support the INFORM Consumers Act and include it as part of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021.
Sincerely,
Chris Clark,
President and CEO, Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
____
LaGrange Troup County
Chamber of Commerce,
LaGrange, GA, June 16, 2022. Hon. Raphael Warnock, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Warnock: On behalf of the LaGrange Troup County Chamber of Commerce, I am pleased to provide support for increased funding for domestic semiconductor production. Our membership includes several industrial partners in Troup County who have been negatively impacted and repeatedly shutdown due to chip shortages. Our Chamber appreciates your efforts to provide U.S. manufacturers access to these important components now and in the future.
The LaGrange Troup County Chamber of Commerce was established in 1911 to support and enhance the businesses and business climate of Troup County. Through our mission of championing our member businesses and serving as a catalyst for advancing the region's economic success, we work diligently on their behalf.
The LaGrange Troup County Chamber looks forward to continuing to support efforts to alleviate challenges in workforce development and strengthen supply chain resiliency.
Sincerely,
Connie Hensler, President and CEO.
____
March 2, 2022. Senator Raphael Warnock.
Dear Senator Warnock: On behalf of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, I am excited to offer this letter in support of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act as well as the America COMPETES Act. As our economy and workforce continue to change, we believe that strengthening our ability to compete globally is key to our long-term success. The Chamber is actively engaged in supporting and enhancing our local community as a regional catalyst in economic growth, workforce development, community vibrancy, and inclusion.
We are hopeful that the passing of this bill means stronger funding and policy support for regional job growth; especially with support for semi-conductor manufacturing that further enables technology manufacturing and strengthens Georgia's automobile industry, the outcome of alleviating supply chain obstacles and the inclusion of historic investments in commercial development and science and technology. Further, strengthening the designated innovation hub between Columbus and Opelika remains an important focus and we'd look forward to the availability of funding to support research and development and commercialization in this arena.
Lastly, as we tackle the challenge of building a world class workforce in a tough environment, support via workforce development programs and funding is imperative.
Please accept our support for SB 1260, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. We look forward to this advancing and to continuing to build a strong Columbus, a strong Georgia and a strong nation. Thanks for your continued partnership.
Very respectfully,
Jerald Mitchell, President and CEO.
____
June 16, 2022. Hon. Rev. Raphael Warnock, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Reverend Warnock: As Director of the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP), I want to thank you for your ongoing efforts to enhance Georgia's innovation and manufacturing sectors and work to strengthen U.S. competitiveness. Each year, GaMEP assists more than 1,000 small and medium-sized manufacturers across Georgia through onsite implementation, training and learning opportunities, connections to partners, and other resources. I hope you can further support the success of Georgia's manufacturing sector in your important role as Senate conferee to the bicameral conference for the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA, S. 1260) and the America COMPETES Act of 2022
(COMPETES Act, H.R. 4521).
These important bills under negotiation have the potential to transform the U.S. economy by spurring new innovations in emerging technologies, jumpstarting our domestic semiconductor production capabilities, and dramatically expanding and solidifying the resiliency of the U.S. manufacturing base. I strongly encourage the inclusion in the final conference agreement the proposed increase of authorized funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program and the establishment ofa National Manufacturing Advisory Council as outlined in both the Senate USJCA and the House COMPETES Act. The bills also include important provisions to create new supply chain resiliency programs to identify, prepare for, and respond to threats to the U.S. supply chain. Looking toward development of future and emerging industries, manufacturers will also have an important role in furthering Georgia's economic development through the proposed Department of Commerce Regional Technology Hubs program. Without actual funding behind these tremendously important policy proposals, these activities may never advance. As such, I encourage Congress to include appropriated funding to begin these efforts.
GaMEP is proud to promote the success of the manufacturing industry within Georgia and support our manufacturers to be globally competitive. The competitiveness legislation under negotiation will propel our efforts even further. I urge Congress to come to a final agreement, which includes these important manufacturing and supply chain provisions, and swiftly enact this crucial legislation. I want to reiterate my appreciation for your work to support the manufacturing and innovation industries in Georgia and I would be happy to answer any questions you or your office may have.
Sincerely,
Timothy D. Israel,
Director, Georgia Institute of Technology--Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 107
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