Problem Solvers Urge Full Funding of CHIPS for America Act
The House regrettably seems on the verge of passing the one-party Build Back Better bill, just days after President Biden signed into law the historic two-party infrastructure bill.
It’s such a missed opportunity because there are enough members — on both sides — who are proving they’re willing to work together if leaders would just give them the space to do it.
Just look at the work being done this week to fix a critical problem with America’s supply chain.
As the Senate continues work on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and as congressional leaders move forward on the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act to counter China, the House Problem Solvers Caucus is pushing for full funding of initiatives to increase domestic semiconductor production.
Problem Solvers Co-chairs Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Mark Warner (D-VA), and other Problem Solvers on Thursday urged Congress to pass funding for the CHIPS for America Act to support millions of workers and a range of U.S. industries that have been adversely impacted by the semiconductor shortage.
The CHIPS for America Act, a bipartisan proposal to invest tens of billions of dollars in semiconductor manufacturing incentives and research initiatives over a decade, became law as part of last year’s NDAA.
In endorsing the call for full funding last month, the Problem Solvers said in a statement, “From smart phones to cars to computer servers, satellites, toys and more, demand for semiconductors is increasingly growing. However, U.S. production of semiconductors has plummeted from 40 percent in 1990 to 12 percent of the global supply today.”
Outside of Washington, there was some encouraging movement on semiconductors on Thursday, with Ford announcing a chip-development agreement with U.S. chipmaker GlobalFoundries, and General Motors also saying it is seeking closer ties with domestic chip producers.