WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKZO AM/FM) — U.S. Representative Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, on Thursday, July 28, issued the following statement after voting for the CHIPS and Science Act, a bill that will boost jobs and the production of semiconductor chips in the U.S.
“After losing so many jobs and market share to semiconductor manufacturers overseas, today we finally have a chance to bring that manufacturing back home. This is a big win to bring production and jobs from overseas back home to the United States.
“Americans are bearing the higher costs and dealing with the inconvenience of manufacturers not being able to sources chips from overseas. Bringing that production back onshore will lead to jobs for our workers, lower costs for our manufactures, and help eliminate the month-long delays Americans are facing for basic goods and services like autos.
“This is also a matter of national security. As we have seen with China’s stockpiling and cutting off supplies to those who call out its bad-faith actions, we cannot continue to rely on China to supply America. China’s constant threats to Taiwan also means we could face supply disruption in a worst-case scenario regarding China’s territorial ambitions.
“To bring jobs home and strengthen our nation’s security, I voted for this bill.”
H.R. 4346, the Chips and Science Act passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 64 to 33.
The House passed the bill on a bipartisan vote of 243 to 187.
President Biden has said he will sign the bill into law.
