Wicker, Hyde-Smith Join Bipartisan Push to Increase U.S. Semiconductor Production

Press Release

U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) are part of a bipartisan group of Senators asking President Biden to take steps to energize semiconductor manufacturing in the United States as the nation struggles with chip shortages from pandemic-related market disruptions.

The Mississippi lawmakers are among 29 Senators who issued a letter to Biden advocating full funding in his FY2022 budget request for semiconductor initiatives included in the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

"We write today to encourage you to prioritize securing funding to implement the initiatives authorized in the CHIPS for America Act that were enacted into law as part of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act," the Senators wrote.

"We would specifically request you consider joining us in support of funding levels that are at least the authorized amounts proposed in the original bill as you work with Congress on a package of policies to better compete with China and how best to strengthen our country's economic competitiveness and resiliency as well as national security."

The letter continued, "The United States cannot wait to provide these resources over the years ahead. The halted production lines for consumer technology, auto manufacturers, truckers, and other critical industries due to a semiconductor shortage further highlights the pressing need to act quickly and fund the enacted bipartisan provisions."

In addition to addressing national security and workforce training needs, the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act authorized a grant program for constructing, expanding, or modernizing commercial semiconductor fabrication, assembly, testing, packaging, and advanced R&D facilities in the United States. It also authorized a national semiconductor technology center to conduct research, fund semiconductor startups and a Manufacturing USA Institute, and a National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) led the letter, which was also signed by Senators Michael Bennett (D-Colo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

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