Media Contact:  Patrick Wright   --  Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted for a bill today to increase the production of semiconductors in America and make the country more competitive for future technologies and jobs.  The bill, the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act (H.R. 4346) provides more than $52 billion to build, expand and modernize domestic facilities and equipment to produce more, and more innovative, semiconductors in America.  Semiconductors are critical to the production and operation of computers, mobile phones and other high-end technologies and products, such as 5G networks, artificial intelligence, and modern defense weapons systems.             

“America is falling farther and farther behind China and other countries in the production of semiconductors and other components that are vital to our national defense,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr.  “This bill would help our country regain the semiconductor production and market share it enjoyed when we invented the semiconductor.  In addition, I am proud that the bill will increase opportunities for all American school children to study science-related subjects and become the next generation of scientists and engineers.  This bill is a badly-needed investment in our national defense and economic future.”

In addition, the bill includes:

• $2 billion to increase semiconductor and related technology research and development at the Defense Department.
• $1.5 billion to expand access to American-made 5G technology for all Americans nationwide.
• $81 billion to increase new technology research and promote more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education opportunities at all levels of learning, from Pre-K to Graduate schools.
• $11 billion to build 20 Regional Technology Hubs to focus on technology development, job creation, and how best to expand U.S. innovation capacity.

The United States invented the modern semiconductor and controlled almost 40 percent of worldwide semiconductor manufacturing in 1990.  But today, only 12 percent of global semiconductors are produced in the country.  The new bill increases that production to protect local communications technologies and increase national security.    

Original source can be found here.