Key legislation to revitalize America’s computer chip manufacturing industry is finally expected to advance toward final passage this week after months of partisan fighting, and now, a slimmed-down version.
Disagreements unrelated to semiconductors over trade with China and climate issues held up the CHIPS Act for months. Now the multi-billion-dollar bill to boost domestic chip making and research key for cars, farm vehicles, phones, computers, broadband, healthcare, and defense, is finally moving.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer after a successful procedural vote last week.
“64-34. That’s a clear signal that, after a lot of hard work and after a lot of compromise from both sides, the path is clear for this CHIPS-plus bill to reach final passage.”
With another procedural vote Monday, followed by final Senate votes by mid-week and swift House action. Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled her support for the bipartisan, bicameral bill at her weekly press conference last Thursday.
“This bill, which we will take up as early as next week, we’re hoping the sooner, the better, will ensure that America continues to be the world’s leader in chips manufacturing.”
Schumer says the bill’s also about research. “More dollars, many more dollars than ever before, are going into the cutting-edge technologies: AI, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, quantum computing, cyber security, 5G.”
The CHIPS Act would invest $52 billion in new U.S. chips plants and tens of billions more for the National Science Foundation and regional tech start-ups.
