S 1872: Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act

S 1872 in plain English: This bill is early in the legislative process and detailed text is not yet available. Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] (R) · Status: Held at the desk.

Stated purpose

To direct the Secretary of Commerce to study whether products needed for critical infrastructure — such as energy, water, and transportation systems — could feasibly be made in the United States instead of imported, and to report the findings and recommendations to Congress.

Arguments supporters make

• Knowing which critical products depend on foreign supply chains is a necessary first step before the government can act to protect national security and keep essential systems running.
• The study could point to new manufacturing jobs, especially in rural areas, by identifying real opportunities that private industry and policymakers can act on.
• Spotlighting federal regulations that raise costs or block domestic production gives Congress concrete targets for reform without overreaching.

Arguments opponents make

• A study alone does nothing to actually build manufacturing capacity — it may produce a report that sits unused while supply chain vulnerabilities persist.
• The government has limited ability to make domestic production cost-competitive with imports; a feasibility study may simply confirm that reshoring many products is too expensive.
• Focusing recommendations on rural areas and industrial parks may reflect political preferences rather than where manufacturing would actually be most efficient or effective.

Tradeoffs

The bill spends government resources on research and analysis rather than direct action, betting that better information will lead to better policy later — but there is no guarantee the findings will be acted upon or that the study's timeframe matches the urgency of real supply chain risks.

Current status in Congress: Passed Senate.

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