Sen. Debbie Stabenow discusses the CHIPS Act

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the CHIPS and Science Act by a 243-187 vote, with 24 Republicans supporting the bill.

The legislation provides over $50 billion for semiconductor manufacturing and research, as well as money for regional technology hubs. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 64-33 earlier this week and will now head to President Biden’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law.

“We need to be making things in America…So, this is going to bring down our costs as consumers [and] bring these jobs home.” — Senator Debbie Stabenow

While semiconductor industry experts are in favor of the bill, the impact of the legislation likely won’t be felt right away.  That’s because the factories that build semiconductors take about two years to build — a timespan that cannot be sped up due to the required cleanliness standards.

Listen: Why Senator Stabenow believes CHIPS Act will bring jobs to Michigan and lower costs for goods.

Guest

Sen. Debbie Stabenow is a Democrat representing Michigan in Washington D.C. She says the bill will ultimately lower costs for items that require microchips by increasing our domestic supply.

“We need to be making things in America,” says Stabenow. “The computer chips, the batteries for vehicles…medical equipment — all kinds of things that we need to make in America.”

Stabenow also believes the legislation will help strengthen national security.

“If this technology ends up being made in China or other places where they could shut us down,” she says, “I mean, we’re very, very vulnerable on the national security front. So, we’re going to bring down costs, bring jobs home, and this is going to strengthen our national security.”