S. 1419: PCBETTER Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-04-28 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-04-28 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

PCBETTER Act of 2021

Plain summary

Protecting Critical Boards and Electronics Through Transparency and Enduring Reinvestment Act of 2021 or the PCBETTER Act of 2021 This bill provides funding for and otherwise addresses the electronics industry as it relates to national security and Department of Defense (DOD) programs. The bill establishes in the Department of the Treasury the Electronics Supply Chain Fund to create a commercially competitive electronics industry in the United States that is capable of meeting national security needs. Among other activities, the fund must be available for DOD to (1) fund the construction, expansion, or modernization of facilities to develop or manufacture semiconductors, microelectronics, advanced electronic packaging, and printed circuit boards; and (2) carry out a program (established by this bill) to test DOD systems for vulnerabilities to foreign interference, sabotage, espionage, and attack. Providers of certain electronic systems must provide DOD with a list of the printed circuit boards in their system that includes an attestation of whether (1) the printed circuit board was partially or fully manufactured and assembled in China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran; (2) the printed circuit board was fully manufactured outside of those nations; or (3) the provider cannot determine where the printed circuit board was manufactured and assembled. DOD must designate a senior official to remediate any vulnerabilities discovered by the established testing program. DOD must promulgate regulations to require contractors selling goods or services to DOD (e.g., printed circuit boards) to undertake such due diligence as DOD considers appropriate to prevent the occurrence of vulnerabilities.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

PCBETTER Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO] reported raising $1.9 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (4)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117s1419.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/s>

Record fed-us-cong117-s1419 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117