Governors, mayors call on Congress to pass chips funding

As Congress moves towards a July 19 vote on semiconductor manufacturing legislation, governors and mayors from both parties, as well as CEOs, are calling on Congress to act before chipmakers are forced to move their investments outside of the U.S.

National Governor’s Association Chairs Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy released a joint statement calling on Congress to act immediately:

“Governors have been encouraged by the bipartisan efforts in Congress to pass a compromise bill supporting American innovation and competitiveness …. We urge Congress to quickly come to an agreement on this important legislation.

“While differences remain between the House and Senate bills, governors on both sides of the aisle agree that the $52 billion in federal investments for the domestic semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing provisions in the CHIPS Act is absolutely critical to our national security and will allow us to address gaps and vulnerabilities in the U.S. supply chain.

“Governors call on the Senate to take up and pass the CHIPS legislation as soon as possible, followed by a speedy vote in the House, to ensure we have the tools necessary to meet the needs of our businesses and the 21st century workforce. We encourage Congress to stay in session and pass this before they adjourn for August recess.”

The U.S. Conference of Mayors also sent a letter to Congressional leadership voicing their support for the Bipartisan Innovation Act. Following are excerpts from that letter:

“The Bipartisan Innovation Act provides an opportunity to address future supply shortages in tech manufacturing, creates jobs, and lays the foundation for future innovations in science and technology to keep America competitive in the global economy. This legislation invests in America’s workers and provides economic stability to American families. We must prioritize and reinvest in the semiconductor industry to reemerge on the global stage as a technology leader.

"Congress must work to include the bipartisan incentive of a fully funded CHIPS Act, along with support for STEM education and an investment tax credit in the final competitiveness legislation. Americans deserve access to economic opportunity, and we urge Congress to come together to move this critical bipartisan package forward.”