WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) voted to pass the CHIPS and Science Act, a bipartisan bill that will lower costs for New Jersey families, boost American manufacturing, and bolster American technology research and development.

“This bill is so important to what we’re trying to do. Not only is this bill going to help build more semiconductors and computer chips, we’re going to build these chips here in America,” said Congressman Kim. “Building these chips here at home is going to create jobs and lower costs for Americans. We’re bringing down the cost of cars and electronics and making America more independent, relying on our own manufacturing rather than importing chips from foreign countries. I’m proud to have passed this in a bipartisan way to create good paying jobs while lowering costs for Americans.”

The CHIPS and Science Act, a compromise version of the America COMPETES Act passed by the House and the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) passed by the Senate, has already passed the Senate and now heads to the President’s desk for his signature. 

The bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act lowers costs for Americans by investing in semiconductor component manufacturing here in America, which will address the chip shortage that has driven up the price of many vehicles and other electronics. These investments will help keep America secure by decreasing our dependence on foreign electronics and chip manufacturing while creating tens of thousands of high quality, good-paying jobs here in America.

Additionally, this bill will invest in research, STEM education, and boost American research and development projects in next-generation technologies that will be made here in America. This includes key priorities championed by Congressman Kim to promote regional technology and innovation hubs around the country and expand STEM education and workforce development.

Finally, this bill establishes a national supply chain database that will provide an overview of American manufacturing across all 50 states and territories. This would reinforce our national supply chain to eliminate the bottlenecks we encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic for products like PPE and testing supplies. Other states will be able to see the manufacturing capacity we have in New Jersey and what component parts are available from New Jersey suppliers.

Congressman Kim is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Committee on Small Business. More information about Congressman Kim can be found on his website by clicking here.

Original source found here.