Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) applauds congressional approval of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. The legislation, expected to be signed by President Joe Biden, was developed to strengthen our nation’s competitiveness with China through increased investments in scientific research and development, federal STEM education programs, cybersecurity, innovation programs, and semiconductor manufacturing.

The bill provides a comprehensive reauthorization of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which plays a pivotal role in America’s science and technology advancement by determining industry standards critical to fair competition and supporting U.S. manufacturing. The bill makes crucial investments in research, including re-establishing a laboratory to promote the development of innovative technologies that will modernize our nation’s aging water infrastructure and improve water efficiency in homes, schools, hospitals and businesses. Companies, academic institutions and other federal agencies rely on NIST's laboratory programs to provide foundational research.

PMI has actively advocated for NIST having the authority and resources it needs to carry out its mission. “Ultimately, NIST’s research will inform a comprehensive upgrade of U.S. plumbing structure, design and construction standards and will help the plumbing manufacturing industry develop safe and reliable plumbing systems to achieve trustworthy water quality and better water efficiency,” said PMI CEO and Executive Director Kerry Stackpole.

PMI thanks House Science and Technology Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), ranking member Frank Lucas (R-OK), and committee membersPaul Tonko(D-NY), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH),andHaley Stevens (D-MI)for leading efforts on the NIST reauthorization package and attaching it to the CHIPS Act.

Over the years, PMI and key stakeholders have worked with Congress and NIST to address and prioritize research needs on plumbing. The research initiative included in the CHIPS bill is based on legislation developed by Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who have both previously introduced measures to expand NIST’s efforts on drinking water.