Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act of 2023

Floor Speech

Date: July 25, 2023
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 752) to require SelectUSA to coordinate with State-level economic development organizations to increase foreign direct investment in semiconductor-related manufacturing and production, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 752

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. SELECTUSA DEFINED.

In this Act, the term ``SelectUSA'' means the SelectUSA program of the Department of Commerce established by Executive Order 13577 (76 Fed. Reg. 35,715). SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Semiconductors underpin the United States and global economies, including manufacturing sectors. Semiconductors are also essential to the national security of the United States.

(2) A shortage of semiconductors, brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and other complex factors impacting the overall supply chain, has threatened the economic recovery of the United States and industries that employ millions of United States citizens.

(3) Addressing current challenges and building resilience against future risks requires ensuring a secure and stable supply chain for semiconductors that will support the economic and national security needs of the United States and its allies.

(4) The supply chain for semiconductors is complex and global. While the United States plays a leading role in certain segments of the semiconductor industry, securing the supply chain requires onshoring, reshoring, or diversifying vulnerable segments, such as for--

(A) fabrication;

(B) advanced packaging; and

(C) materials and equipment used to manufacture semiconductor products.

(5) The Federal Government can leverage foreign direct investment and private dollars to grow the domestic manufacturing and production capacity of the United States for vulnerable segments of the semiconductor supply chain.

(6) The SelectUSA program of the Department of Commerce, in coordination with other Federal agencies and State-level economic development organizations, is positioned to boost foreign direct investment in domestic manufacturing and to help secure the semiconductor supply chain of the United States. SEC. 4. COORDINATION WITH STATE-LEVEL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Executive Director of SelectUSA shall solicit comments from State-level economic development organizations--

(1) to review--

(A) what efforts the Federal Government can take to support increased foreign direct investment in any segment of semiconductor-related production;

(B) what barriers to such investment may exist and how to amplify State efforts to attract such investment;

(C) public opportunities those organizations have identified to attract foreign direct investment to help increase investment described in subparagraph (A);

(D) resource gaps or other challenges that prevent those organizations from increasing such investment; and

(2) to develop recommendations for--

(A) how SelectUSA can increase such investment independently or through partnership with those organizations; and

(B) working with countries that are allies or partners of the United States to ensure that foreign adversaries (as defined in section 8(c)(2) of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1607(c)(2))) do not benefit from United States efforts to increase such investment. SEC. 5. REPORT ON INCREASING FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN SEMICONDUCTOR-RELATED MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCTION.

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Executive Director of SelectUSA, in coordination with the Federal Interagency Investment Working Group established by Executive Order 13577 (76 Fed. Reg. 35,715; relating to establishment of the SelectUSA Initiative), shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that includes--

(1) a review of the comments SelectUSA received from State- level economic development organizations under section 4;

(2) a description of activities SelectUSA is engaged in to increase foreign direct investment in semiconductor-related manufacturing and production; and

(3) an assessment of strategies SelectUSA may implement to achieve an increase in such investment and to help secure the United States supply chain for semiconductors, including by--

(A) working with other relevant Federal agencies; and

(B) working with State-level economic development organizations and implementing any strategies or recommendations SelectUSA received from those organizations. SEC. 6. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out this Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 752, the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act of 2023, sponsored by Ms. Eshoo of California and Mr. Pence of Indiana.

I am pleased that we can look at ways to attract investment into our country as opposed to shifting more demands onto our taxpayers.

This legislation requires SelectUSA to find ways that we can bolster foreign direct investment in U.S. semiconductor supply chains.

Semiconductor technology powers much of our modern economy, including payment cards, automobiles, cell phones, and the list goes on.

While we have led in chip design over the years, we have seen chip manufacturing and its surrounding supply chains shift overseas.

Among the many lessons we learned from COVID-19 and the pandemic is that the United States must lead in both the design and production of semiconductor chips to ensure we do not fall behind China.
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Mr. BUCSHON. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. BUCSHON. Madam Speaker, I also urge support for H.R. 752, the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act of 2023, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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