Today Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, along with Representative Greg Stanton led a bipartisan group of 70 Senators and Representatives in requesting that President Joe Biden fully fund initiatives to expand semiconductor manufacturing on American soil. The Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Arizona is home to 16 semiconductor companies, so by fully funding CHIPS, the opportunity for high-paying jobs would increase in Arizona.
Senator Kelly stated on Twitter, “Right now, there’s a shortage of semiconductors, and with the growing semiconductor manufacturing industry in our state, we’re poised to lease the mission to close the gap while creating thousands of good-paying jobs right here in Arizona.”
Right now, there’s a shortage of semiconductors, and with the growing semiconductor manufacturing industry in our state, we’re poised to lead the mission to close the gap while creating thousands of good-paying jobs right here in Arizona. https://t.co/vcG6CQDes0
— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) April 26, 2021
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced its plans to build six factories in Arizona, which would create thousands of good-paying manufacturing jobs for Arizonans. Samsung Electronics is also considering opening a new U.S. manufacturing facility in Phoenix.
Kelly stated, “Increasing the production of semiconductors on American soil is an economic and national security imperative. Arizona is a leader in the sector, proven by recent investments by Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Funding the CHIPS Act will create thousands of high-paying jobs, and be critical to our national security to ensure our competitiveness over China and on the global stage.”
“The bipartisan CHIPS initiative is critical for both our economy and our national security—and now we need to ensure it is fully funded. When high-tech and semiconductor companies build and scale in Arizona, they add new, quality jobs and lift up our entire economy. CHIPS will help strengthen Arizona’s—and America’s—leadership in chip-technology innovations,” stated Representative Stanton.
“Building on our recent success passing our CHIPS for America plan, continued investment in semiconductor manufacturing creates good-paying jobs across our state, strengthens our national security, and ensures our country continues to lead in innovation,” commented Sinema.
The letter to President Biden states, “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.”
