Subcommittee on Research and Technology Chairwoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) introduced the bipartisan Creating Helpful Initiatives to Produce Personnel in Needed Growth Industries or, the CHIPPING IN Act of 2022 (H.R. 8251). Chairwoman Stevens was joined by Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI), Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL), and Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) in introducing this legislation.
“We invented and innovated the semiconductor chip in the United States but are currently only manufacturing 12% of the global supply,” said Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI). “We’re experiencing the semiconductor chip shortage first-hand in Oakland County, where we have parking lots full of cars that cannot be sold due to missing chips. Solving the semiconductor chips shortage and investing in the semiconductor workforce is essential to our country’s success as we re-shore American manufacturing and lead the world in innovation. The CHIPPING IN Act will help the U.S. develop a diverse and sustainable semiconductor workforce that meets the evolving needs of universities, community colleges, national laboratories, and companies across the microelectronics supply chain.”
“Right now, in my hometown of Flint, thousands of cars sit unfinished, just waiting for semiconductor chips that are made overseas. American-made cars shouldn’t be wholly reliant on foreign-made chips. That’s why I’m proud to introduce this legislation, supported by Republicans and Democrats, to help bring semiconductor chip production back to the United States,”said Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI). “By investing in Michigan workers, we can ensure our workforce is ready to attract and fill these high-skilled jobs. In Congress, I’ll keep working to bring critical manufacturing back to America.”
“Everything we touch from our phones to our cars, TVs, navigation systems, and so much more need microelectronics to function,” said Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL). “But right now, the United States does not have the available, capable workforce here at home to manufacture the microelectronics that Americans rely on. Instead, we have almost completely outsourced our semiconductor manufacturing to other countries over the last few decades, including our greatest adversary today, China. To remain competitive on the global stage, we must meet the demands of this growing industry by investing in a technical workforce at our colleges and universities. STEM education is the future.”
“The United States, and particularly my home state of Ohio, is at a critical point to re-shore microelectronics manufacturing,” said Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH). It is important to ensure that the next generation of workers are equipped with the skills needed to compete. I am glad to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation which will incentivize U.S. colleges and universities in training the future of the semiconductor workforce.
“The U.S. auto sector supports efforts to bring about a revolutionary change in higher education and other organizations that results in growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector leading to greater domestic production of critical products including auto-grade semiconductors,” said Governor Matt Blunt, President of the American Automotive Policy Council. “Congresswoman Haley Stevens' CHIPPING IN Act of 2022 will aid in fueling a new generation of students to pursue degrees in microelectronics and help the U.S. build a growing and robust semiconductor manufacturing sector in the United States.”
“Oakland University in Michigan sits at the heart of the nexus of electrification, digitization, automation, and manufacturing in the United States,”said Dr. David Stone, Chief Research Officer, Oakland University. “As such, we are committed to supporting the workforce and training efforts necessary to ensure that the US has the microelectronic capabilities it needs to remain secure and independent. The CHIPPING IN ACT of 2022 provides the needed support on the research and training fronts necessary for public institutions like Oakland University to commit to programs that support microelectronics education and research, and to maintain the partnerships necessary to ensure that the transition from training to workforce participation is seamless. Oakland University supports the bipartisan CHIPPING IN ACT of 2022 and encourages Congress to pass it.”
“The CHIPPING IN Act of 2022 enumerates the key challenges for meeting domestic microelectronics industry workforce needs and identifies appropriate activities to bolster microelectronics education and workforce development to address these challenges,” said the Executive Committee of the American Semiconductor Academy Initiative. “...We hope that the CHIPPING IN Act will soon be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, to address the urgent workforce development needs of the U.S. microelectronics industry and thereby fuel American innovation and economic growth.”
“The CHIPPING IN Act of 2022 recognizes the serious workforce challenges facing this industry now and, in the future, and takes important steps to ensure growth in this critical industry…” said Ajit Manocha, President & Chief Executive Officer, SEMI. “This bill supports the greater goal of creating a larger, more skilled, and more diverse microelectronics workforce to meet the needs of our industry and economy.”
The bipartisan CHIPPING IN Act takes a multifaceted approach to raising awareness, increasing opportunities for students to pursue degrees at all levels, and providing hands-on opportunities in microelectronics for students who will be the future of this growing and critical workforce. The bill creates National Science Foundation (NSF) awards for institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, and consortia to advance innovative approaches to developing evidence-based microelectronics education and workforce development activities. Additionally, the bill establishes traineeship programs to fund research for students who pursue microelectronics in their masters or doctorate degree. The traineeship program will give priority to proposals that are led by a Historically Black College and University, Tribal College or University, or Minority Serving Institution to increase the recruitment of students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM to pursue graduate studies in microelectronics.
Supporting organizations: American Automotive Policy Council, American Semiconductor Academy Initiative, Intel, and SEMI
Original source can be found here.
