Balderson Calls for Swift Action to Restore U.S. Leadership in Semiconductor Chip Manufacturing

Press Release

Congressman Troy Balderson today called on Congressional leaders to fully fund the CHIPS For America Act, a crucial piece of legislation aimed at restoring American leadership in semiconductor chip manufacturing.

"Restoring American leadership as a producer of advanced computer chip technology is critically important in strengthening U.S. supply chain resiliency and addressing our over-reliance on foreign suppliers for components vital to our national defense," said Congressman Troy Balderson. "In addition to its potential for creating good-paying tech jobs, this investment takes a major step toward addressing the national chip shortage and would mark a significant milestone in our efforts to lessen dependence on overseas manufacturers."

Semiconductor chips are a crucial component of products Americans rely on every day, including cars, computers, cell phones, and virtually every electronic device in our homes.

"We are allowing ourselves to be held hostage by the imbalance of foreign chip production," Balderson added. "It's past time to bolster this production here at home."

Representative Balderson was joined by fellow Ohio Republican Representatives Bill Johnson, Anthony Gonzalez, Bob Latta, Mike Turner, Dave Joyce, Brad Wenstrup, Steve Chabot, and Mike Carey in a letter sent Friday morning to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. The letter urges swift legislative action to allow for critical investments to move forward.

The bipartisan CHIPS for America Act was enacted in the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act, taking an important first step toward this goal. Fully funding the CHIPS Act is necessary to wholly realize the importance of this investment and to provide chip manufacturers assistance for facility investment.

These sentiments reflect those expressed in a letter to Members of the Ohio Congressional Delegation from JobsOhio and other Ohio economic development organizations on November 4, 2021, which stated, "Ohio has a unique opportunity to directly benefit from this legislative action by attracting generational investments from companies seeking to augment the domestic manufacturing of semiconductors. We believe that Ohio's strong business climate, talented workforce, and ideal geographic location make our state a premier location for future semiconductor investments."

"For far too long, the United States has relied on foreign nations to produce the microchips and semiconductors used in products that the American people need and demand every day. That must end immediately," said Congressman Bill Johnson. "Manufacturing chips abroad in countries like China threatens our national security and takes jobs away from our unmatched workforce. America invented microchip technology, and it was a big mistake to share it with countries like China. I look forward to working with my colleagues further on this effort to bring chip manufacturing back home."

"The United States' national security, automotive sector, and other critical industries are dependent on the timely access to semiconductor chips," said Congressman Anthony Gonzalez. "It is troublesome to see most of this production outsourced overseas, particularly to adversaries like China, and it is critical we bring manufacturing back to the United States. I am glad to join my Ohio colleagues in sending a letter to Congressional leaders advocating that we fully fund the CHIPS for America Act to help the U.S. can regain leadership in the manufacturing of this critical technology."

BACKGROUND

A staunch advocate for Ohio's advanced manufacturing jobs, Balderson has worked tirelessly to strengthen this critical sector since taking office.

Earlier this Congress, Rep. Balderson introduced the Resilient Manufacturing Task Force Act, which would establish a task force to identify critical vulnerabilities in existing U.S. supply chains and develop a plan for experts from across the private sector to provide assistance in the event of national supply chain and other manufacturing emergencies.

In 2019, Rep Balderson championed the bipartisan American Manufacturing Leadership Act, aimed at strengthening our advanced manufacturing workforce; including the small and medium manufacturers that are the lifeblood of our economy; and leveraging partnerships between the federal government and the private sector to help Manufacturing USA Institutes achieve their goals. The legislation built on the successes of the Manufacturing USA program in accelerating our nation's progress in advanced manufacturing.