[Pages S3154-S3155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

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.

[[Page S3155]]

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.

____________________