Dear Friend,
Semiconductor chips are in almost every electronic device we use today, from smartphones and gaming consoles to cars and washing machines. Since the pandemic, many of us have relied on these devices to safely talk to friends and family across the world, work from home, and perform everyday tasks. Chips are also critical components in military and aerospace equipment, life-saving medical devices, and cars.
Unfortunately, we are facing an international chip shortage due to supply change disruptions and strong demand. Widespread shortages and our over-reliance on chips from China and East Asia pose a risk to our national security and the long-term reliability of our supply. The New Democrat Coalition, that I chair, made the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act a top priority and I was eager to serve on the negotiating committee with the Senate to get it done.
The legislation will increase our production of these critical products to help ease this shortage. Earlier this week the Senate passed and today the House approved the legislation with my support. The bill includes incentives to increase domestic chip production as well as a new tax credit, based on legislation I introduced, to encourage companies to build plants in the United States. It will help bring semiconductor production home, ease supply chain issues, create roughly 100,000 good-paying American jobs, and make the U.S. a global economic leader in the 21st century.
This legislation would mean a lot to the Washington state economy. I recently hosted a roundtable with Washington businesses impacted by the shortage. I also held a call with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to discuss why this legislation is so important to our state.
The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk, who has said he will sign it soon. This was an important bipartisan victory for American families and our economy.
As always, I am here to help you. If you need assistance at this difficult time, please don’t
hesitate to leave a message at my Kirkland office at (425) 485-0085. For more updates on what I’m doing for WA-01, you can follow me on social media at the links above.
Stay safe and stay healthy,
Suzan
