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WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Industry Leaders Call on Congress to Invest in America’s Future

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Earlier this week, the Department of Commerce released an alarming report confirming that the semiconductor supply chain remains fragile and it is essential that Congress move swiftly to pass the President’s proposed $52 billion in chips funding as soon as possible. With demand for chips continuing to outpace supply of these critical inputs, many manufacturing fabs are running at more than 90% capacity, while manufacturers have, on average, fewer than five days’ worth of inventory.

U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo has been sounding the alarm about the need to revitalize American manufacturing in general, and our domestic semiconductor production in particular. Rebuilding America’s semiconductor manufacturing industry will ease the inflationary pressure we are seeing in the auto industry and other sectors of our economy while also creating good-paying family jobs that enable America to be more competitive globally.

This week, the House took important steps to address this crisis. With Senate passage of the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the more recent introduction of the House’s America COMPETES Act, we are moving closer towards making the critical investments needed to address the chip shortage and invest in our 21st century economy.

Here’s what important leaders in America’s semiconductor manufacturing industry are saying:

The Information Technology Industry Council: “The America COMPETES Act is an important step to strengthen America’s technology leadership, economic competitiveness, and national security. Its investments in research and development, entrepreneurship, and science will support high-tech jobs and manufacturing in communities around the country. Importantly, its funding for the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act will boost domestic semiconductor production and create a more resilient ecosystem in the long-term. We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers as they refine and advance this important measure.”

Semiconductor Industry Association: “America’s economy, national security, and global competitiveness are built on semiconductors. We applaud the release in the House of Representatives of the America COMPETES Act, which includes $52 billion to fund incentives for domestic semiconductor manufacturing and investments in chip research. We appreciate the leadership of Speaker Pelosi in advancing this legislation in the House and look forward to the House and Senate negotiating compromise legislation that can be sent to the president for his signature. This critical funding will help ensure more of the chips Americans need are researched, designed, and manufactured on U.S. soil, strengthening our supply chains and creating new, high-paying American jobs across the country.”

SEMI: “We are very pleased to see the House move forward to introduce the America Competes Act of 2022 including robust funding for the CHIPS Act programs…These programs will attract new manufacturing facilities – both chip fabs and upstream suppliers – and support technologies that countless industries in the U.S. and around the world depend on. The bill will also bolster workforce development programs, helping to equip workers with the skills needed in today’s semiconductor industry. We look forward to working with Congress and the Biden Administration to enact this funding into law.”

National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO: “The introduction of the America COMPETES Act, which includes many components of the overwhelmingly bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, is a major step forward, and lawmakers can feel confident that supporting this bill means supporting the future of manufacturing in America. Not only would its provisions help address inflation and alleviate supply chain challenges we’re facing today, but the bill provides significant investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, which would also help us avert future crises. This bill also includes funding for a Supply Chain Resilience and Crisis Response Office at the Department of Commerce. I’ve discussed the programs that this office would oversee with Secretary Raimondo, and manufacturers strongly back these initiatives, which would include game-changing grants, loans and loan guarantees. This legislation would strengthen U.S. leadership in global climate innovation, improve environmental research and fill critical gaps in data—all while holding China accountable as the world’s biggest emitter. Manufacturers look forward to working with Congress on all elements of this legislation to ensure it meets the needs of our industry and supports America’s manufacturing workers and American families by putting the United States in a much stronger competitive position toward China.”

Leadership