Spanberger Statement on U.S. Senate Passing Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen American Competitiveness, Boost Domestic Semiconductor Production
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation to strengthen America’s semiconductor research, development, and production.
“The U.S. Senate has voted to make urgent and necessary investments in America’s economy, workforce, and national security. But if the U.S. House now delays in moving this bipartisan legislation to the President’s desk, we will jeopardize critical investments in Virginia’s semiconductor industry — and we will risk letting the Chinese Communist Party get the upper hand in this global economic competition.
“I know firsthand how this package would grow the semiconductor industry in Virginia and across the country. In my district, I’ve heard directly from local business owners, workers, and leaders about how these investments would improve existing infrastructure, take advantage of shovel-ready sites in the Commonwealth, and grow Virginia’s workforce in this sector. I’ve also heard from industries in Virginia that find themselves falling behind foreign competitors — simply because of the chronic unavailability of chips for highly mechanized industries, including logging and shipping.
“I have long pushed for congressional leadership to move these investments in America’s semiconductor industry forward, because they are crucial for strengthening our domestic production and our overall competitiveness. Last year, House leadership should have brought the U.S. Senate’s bill to the floor for an immediate vote. While we cannot go back in time, we can move this bill to the President’s desk with a straightforward vote on the U.S. House floor. We should do so as soon as possible.”
Earlier this year, Spanberger and U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) led the Virginia congressional delegation in calling on the U.S. Department of Commerce to consider Virginia for future locations of major semiconductor production and research facilities made possible through investments in the CHIPS for America Act.
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