This week, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Deputy Secretary Don Graves emphasized the dire need to bring back manufacturing jobs, secure our supply chains, and revitalize domestic microchip manufacturing during a virtual media tour across the country. During their interviews, Raimondo and Graves discussed the significant economic benefits that investing in semiconductor production will have on local communities across the country. This outreach comes as a bipartisan conference committee in Congress works to deliver the Bipartisan Innovation Act to the President’s desk.

Through their combined efforts, the Secretary and Deputy Secretary reached audiences in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Ohio, Virginia, Kansas, Texas, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Washington, Minnesota, New York, and Michigan. Here’s what people across the country are hearing:

PA

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Top Biden officials say Pa. will benefit from approval of bill boosting semiconductor industry

Such major Pennsylvania employers as Lockheed Martin, and research hubs such as Carnegie Mellon University, would be hobbled if congressional negotiators don’t swiftly come to agreement on legislation aimed at improving American competitiveness in the global semiconductor market, seni0r Biden administration officials warned Tuesday. “We can’t wait. Other countries aren’t waiting,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said during a press call with Pennsylvania journalists. “We’re going to work as hard as we can to get this done. It’s just too important for economic and national security.”

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania could see huge benefits if it goes all in on semiconductor chip production

Pennsylvania stands to “benefit disproportionately” from investment in semiconductor production and advanced tech because of its leading research universities and manufacturing facilities, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Tuesday to state reporters. Ms. Raimondo and a national security official highlighted the Commonwealth as home to chip-dependent defense equipment production in the east and Pittsburgh as a tech “hub” in the west where research and spin-off companies come of out Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

AZ

CBS Phoenix: Arizona poised to double workforce in semiconductor industry - tens of thousands of jobs

Your car is made with microchips. So is your smartphone. And your thermostat. And the robotic vacuum that roams your floors and cleans up after the kids. “Demand for semiconductors is through the roof,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said during an exclusive interview with 3 On Your Side. The United States only manufactures about 12% of semiconductors, and Raimondo says the nation is vulnerable because of it.

TX

FOX Dallas: (VIDEO) Raimondo warns low semiconductor supply will impact Texas

“It really is a crisis,” Secretary Raimondo said. “We have a solution, it’s called the CHIPS Act, [and] it’s working its way through Congress. We got to get it done. We can’t move fast enough in order to make that happen so that we can get back to the business of making chips in America.”

ABC Austin: Despite multiple name changes, federal semiconductor funding takes next step toward president's desk

Congress is notorious for moving slowly, even on issues with bipartisan support. "It takes longer than it should, even things that are obviously good for the country like this," U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. "There is some momentum now, and we're all just going to have to step up and lead and get it to the president's desk."

Houston Chronicle: Commerce secretary warns Texas faces ‘disproportionate’ risk as computer chip supplies slow

The Biden administration is making a public push for Republicans and Democrats in Congress to come together on legislation that would pump more than $50 billion into expanding U.S. manufacturing of computer chips, also known as semiconductors, as global demand rises and manufacturers struggle to lock down supplies. "All states would be impacted but Texas would be disproportionately effected (if the legislation doesn't pass)," Raimondo said. "You have a number of defense contractors in Texas that are utterly dependent on chips... You have the tech industry around Austin, Houston and Dallas. And you have a number of companies in the chip industry."

NBC San Antonio: Addressing Chip Shortage

“It’s all about getting us the tools we need to invest in more fabrication facilities, to build the ecosystem here in the United States, to bring these jobs back to the US, and to make sure that we are never again dependent on products that come out of foreign countries,” Deputy Secretary Graves said.

MI

NBC Flint: (VIDEO) Commerce Sec explains semiconductor shortage, Congressional bill to make chips in America

“It's not enough to be in favor of it. It has to move faster to the President's desk because Michiganders deserve these good jobs,” said Secretary Raimondo.

UT

Salt Lake Tribune: America is short semiconductors. Here’s how Utah could be part of the solution.

Raimondo warned Utah would not be immune from a chip shortage. “If we don’t increase domestic production of semiconductors, Utah’s tech sector and Silicon Slopes is chock full of fast-growing, innovative tech companies. All of them need advanced chips to provide products and keep their companies going,” she said.

MT

NBC Montana: Officials talk Montana impacts of bipartisan innovation act

“I think that your region is well poised to take advantage of the jobs that will be created and also, quite frankly, is quite vulnerable and at risk if we don't pass and don't increase domestic production of semiconductors,” Raimondo said.

Billings Gazette: Tech in the Mountain West crucial to microchip expansion, Commerce Sec. Raimondo says

Calling the United States dangerously short on microchips and overly reliant on foreign suppliers, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Wednesday advocated for a manufacturing expansion bill beneficial to the tech economy of the Rocky Mountain West, including Montana.

ID

The Idaho Statesman: A great deal at stake for Idaho:’ Why Biden’s commerce secretary is pointing out Micron

"Obviously, Idaho is home to Micron, one of the largest employers in Idaho,” Secretary Raimondo said. “.. and there are 50 more chip-making facilities across the state. So there is a great deal at stake for Idaho in this legislation.”

NBC Pocatello, Idaho: Tech in the Mountain West crucial to microchip expansion, Commerce Sec. Raimondo says

Calling the United States dangerously short on microchips and overly reliant on foreign suppliers, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Wednesday advocated for a manufacturing expansion bill beneficial to the tech economy of the Rocky Mountain West, including Montana. In a press call with reporters from Montana, Idaho, Utah and Washington, Raimondo said the chip shortage is as bad as it’s even been, posing a threat to the manufacture of military equipment, farm machinery and automobiles. The only way out, the secretary said, is expanding U.S. production of microchips, or semiconductors.

MN

CBS Rochester Minnesota: Bipartisan push to boost U.S. semiconductor chip manufacturing aims to ease consumer prices

While the United States was once a leader in production of semi chips, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves says today the country only makes about 12% of them worldwide, none of which are the most advanced available. "That means that when you have things like a pandemic, and you have massive supply chain issues across the globe, it means that we're reliant on other countries, and when other countries aren't producing or there are shortages, it means that we can't have the chips that we need to build equipment, and for everyday life," Graves told KIMT.

CBS Rochester Minnesota: (VIDEO) Bipartisan Innovation Act could reduce American reliance on foreign chip makers

“When we have enough chips, it means we have enough cars, we have enough cell phones, we have the equipment that power our lives, that our consumers need and just as importantly that our businesses need for the equipment that runs their companies,” Deputy Secretary Graves said.

NY

News12 Long Island: Chips shortage can be resolved in Senate bill, deputy commerce secretary says

“[New York] is already at the center of the semiconductor ecosystem, so I expect that to increase significantly over the coming months and years,” said Deputy Secretary Graves.

KS

CW Wichita Kansas: Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves talks Senate bill, chip shortage

“We aren’t making any of the most advanced chips in the United States. This new legislation, once we get it passed Congress and to the President’s desk, will allow us to invest so we can create more of those chips here at home in the United States,” said Deputy Secretary Graves.