CHIPS and Science Act Offers Historic Opportunities
Randy Wolken, President & CEO

This week I joined U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for a press conference regarding the passage of the CHIPS and Science bill at the White Pine Commerce Park site in Clay, NY. Also in attendance were Congressman John Katko, NYS Senator John Mannion, Assemblyman Al Stirpe, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, Clay Town Supervisor Damian Ulatowsky, and other elected officials and community leaders along with MACNY member companies National Grid and JMA Wireless. Together we celebrated what is likely to be one of the most historic opportunities this community and all of New York State has seen in recent history.

The CHIPS and Science Act passage is a significant win for Central New York and all of New York State. This legislation will help create real growth in the semiconductor industry while creating thousands of advanced manufacturing jobs, strengthening the supply chain network, and bolstering national security. Thanks to U.S. Senator Schumer and our entire New York Congressional Delegation who supported this vital national and economic security legislation. The White Pine site in Clay, NY, will soon become home to major semiconductor chip manufacturers interested in moving here because of the shovel-ready infrastructure and skilled workforce.

The CHIPS and Science Act now awaits President Biden’s signature. If signed into law, the legislation would provide federal incentives to build or expand facilities and equipment for semiconductor fabrication, assembly, testing, advanced packaging, and research and development. Semiconductor plants consist of high-paying jobs for residents, including technicians, and a great need for engineers.

Swift passage and implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act strengthens domestic semiconductor manufacturing, design, and research, fortifies the economy and national security, and dramatically improves America’s chip supply chains. The share of modern semiconductor manufacturing capacity in the U.S. has slipped from 37% in 1990 to 12% today. This has occurred because other countries’ governments have invested ambitiously in chip manufacturing incentives and the U.S. government has not. Meanwhile, federal investments in chip research have held flat as a share of GDP, while other countries have significantly ramped up research investments. This act reverses these trends and can once again make America the premier place to design and make semiconductors chips.

Congress and the administration must now fully fund the semiconductor manufacturing and research provisions in the CHIPS Act — and maintain an investment tax credit for semiconductor manufacturing and design — to ensure America’s global leadership in chip technology for years to come. By passing the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, leaders in Washington ushered in a historic resurgence of chip manufacturing in America, strengthened our country’s most critical industries, boosted domestic chip research and design, and helped ensure the U.S. leads in the crucial, chip-enabled technologies that will define America’s future.

For more information, visit https://www.semiconductors.org/chips/.