Governor Gretchen Whitmer, joined by Governor Newsom (CA), Governor Lamont (CT), Governor Little (ID), Governor Pritzker (IL), Governor Holcomb (IN), Governor Kelly (KS), Governor Beshear (KY), Governor Baker (MA), Governor Sisolak (NV), Governor Murphy (NJ), Governor Lujan Grisham (NM), Governor Hochul (NY), Governor Cooper (NC), Governor DeWine (OH), Governor Brown (OR), Governor Wolf (PA), Governor Cox (UT), Governor Scott (VT), Governor Inslee (WA), Governor Evers (WI), and Governor Gordon (WY) sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging quick passage of economic competitiveness legislation that includes full funding for the Creating Helpful Incentives for the Production of Semiconductors for America Act, or CHIPS Act. The $52 billion in incentives provided under the CHIPS Act to boost domestic chip production will help the United States regain its leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and support the businesses and workers who make the products dependent on these chips.
"We are encouraged that Congress is moving forward on a landmark bill to improve our economic competitiveness and boost domestic chip production," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "The chip shortage has hit working families and businesses in Michigan and many other states hard. Thousands of jobs up and down the auto supply chain and across multiple industries are at risk, and the solution is clear-fund the CHIPS Act now. If we're going to protect working families and maintain America's competitive edge, Congressional leaders must come together to get this done. I am grateful for the Michigan Congressional delegation's work to include the CHIPS Act in both the House and Senate competitiveness packages. Passage of an investment tax credit for semiconductor manufacturing and design, as provided in the FABS Act, would be another significant tool in our toolboxes to attract chip-focused investment. I hope that both chambers can now come together to send a unified package that fully funds these important incentives to the president's desk as fast as possible so we can address this crisis and further Michigan's economic momentum."
CHIPS Act Legislative Status
After the U.S. Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act in June 2021, Governor Whitmer led a group of bipartisan governors urging the U.S. House of Representatives to also pass economic competitiveness legislation funding the CHIPS Act. A few months after the letter, the House passed the America COMPETES Act, which includes funding for the CHIPS Act, on February 4, 2022.
Now, both the Senate and House have passed bills funding the CHIPS Act. Currently, both chambers, led by members of Michigan's congressional delegation, are working to reconcile differences between their two bills and send a final version to the president's desk.
The governors wrote the attached letter to urge Congress to take swift bipartisan action to reconcile the two bills to get to the president for his final sign off as soon as possible.
Original source can be found here.
