Detroit’s auto brainpower is back on the congressional agenda, as Michigan’s delegation rolls out a new plan to keep the next wave of vehicle technology anchored at home.
Reps. Haley Stevens and Debbie Dingell have introduced the Shifting Forward Vehicle Technologies Research and Development Act, a proposal that would steer federal research dollars and training programs into batteries, electrification and other next‑generation vehicle tech. Framed as both an economic and national security play, the bill is pitched as a way to keep high‑paying manufacturing and engineering jobs in Michigan by emphasizing workforce development, supply chain resilience, and lab‑scale research that can translate into local manufacturing.
According to CBS News Detroit, Stevens and Dingell say the measure calls for federal investments in research, workforce programs, and infrastructure across the auto supply chain. "Michigan put the word on wheels," Stevens said, while Dingell argued the bill "invests in the research and development needed to improve vehicle efficiency, strengthen domestic supply chains, and produce cutting‑edge clean vehicle technology."
This is not their first run at the idea. Similar language showed up in H.R. 9022 in 2022 and H.R. 5090 in 2023, efforts that were sent to House committees and never became law. The original bill text and filings indicate the proposal would reauthorize and expand the Department of Energy’s advanced vehicle technologies programs and set up grant support for university research centers focused on batteries, charging, and manufacturing processes, according to Congress.gov.
Industry players have already signaled they are on board with the concept. In a 2022 press release from Dingell’s office, Alliance for Automotive Innovation president John Bozzella called the legislation "a smart strategy to leverage government R&D resources." Other groups, including Third Way, praised its focus on domestic production and workforce development, per Rep. Debbie Dingell's office.
What the Bill Would Fund
The measure zeroes in on batteries, electrification, hydrogen, and alternative fuels, and adds funding for research on cybersecurity, physical security, and system performance for connected and automated vehicles. It would also prioritize work on battery safety and recycling, along with extreme fast‑charging or wireless charging demonstration projects. On top of that, the bill calls for workforce advisory structures and pilot projects that link vehicles to the power grid, as reported by Transportation Today.
Why Michigan Cares
Supporters argue that those research dollars could translate quickly into new jobs, supplier contracts, and retrofit work for Michigan factories, especially around electrification and battery supply chains. Stevens said the bill is meant to protect good‑paying jobs, strengthen domestic supply chains, and help ensure the next generation of vehicles is designed and built in Michigan, according to CBS News Detroit.
Next Steps
The bill now heads to committee review, where members can debate and amend it. Previous versions were referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, which oversees Department of Energy research programs. If lawmakers ultimately adopt the measure, it would still require appropriations and would likely have to compete with other energy and transportation priorities during committee markup, according to earlier bill text and summaries on Congress.gov.
Whether this latest push attracts new bipartisan support or actual funding is an open question, but its reintroduction keeps Washington focused on how federal R&D dollars might help protect American auto jobs. For now, observers are waiting to see if it gets committee hearings and whether industry groups attempt to tweak the details as the bill moves forward.
