TWO YEARS ON: The Landmark CHIPS and Science Act

     The CHIPS and Science Act took years, but it has been a bigger win for the United States than I, or just about anyone else, ever could have imagined. Americans love to talk about how the good old days of the post-World War II era are gone. One of the reasons I am such a fan of President Biden is because he recognizes why that is: America used to invest in its science, manufacturing, infrastructure, and other critical aspects of being a leader in areas aside from its military, but it has failed to do so for decades. In November 2021, he signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a historic $1.2 trillion investment in infrastructure ranging from universal broadband to clean water that will create two million jobs and help America compete in the modern era.

     Then came the CHIPS and Science Act. Introduced in 2019, the bill was a priority for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer: he ordered committee chairs to get to work on the Endless Frontier Act in February 2021, first brought it to the floor in April 2021, and passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (a $110 billion bill) in June 2021. In February 2022, the House of Representatives passed the $350 billion America COMPETES Act. Then it went to a conference committee, seeking to resolve differences between the House and Senate version. In early July, when it was announced that President Biden's climate and healthcare plan would be revived, Senate Republicans tried to block the bill and the Honoring Our PACT Act, a $400 billion bill to help veterans. After an appropriate amount of outrage and political deceit, Congress passed the PACT Act as well as a $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act, much more than anyone thought it would be. The Inflation Reduction Act would become law in August 2022.

     In the two years since its passage, the CHIPS and Science Act has lowered costs, restored American manufacturing, strengthened supply chains, helped us compete with China, set us on course to create or retain three million jobs, and much more. Here are the specifics:

1. $52.7 billion is being allocated for American semiconductor research, development, workforce development, and manufacturing.
2. $1.5 billion is being allocated to promote and deploy wireless technologies and their supply chains. 
3. $10 billion is being allocated for 31 regional innovation and technology hubs around the nation.
4. $1 billion is being used to create a pilot program in the Department of Commerce called RECOMPETE aimed at creating jobs in the areas of the country that persistently have the least economic opportunity.
5. $81 billion is going to the National Science Foundation to double its budget by 2027.
6. $13 billion is going to create opportunities for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.
7. HBCUs and other minority-serving institutes have been tapped as the key partners for these and the numerous other initiatives contained in the bill.

     The bill still has three years left for its impact to be felt, but the results in the past two years have been nothing short of amazing. Intel announced a plant in Arizona that will create 9,000 jobs and an Ohio plant that will create 10,000 jobs in the largest private-sector investments in the history of each of those states. Intel plans to invest $100 billion in American manufacturing by 2030 in large part thanks to the provisions of the CHIPS and Science Act. TCMS announced a project in Phoenix, Arizona, that will create 25,000 jobs. Micron announced $125 billion worth of investments by 2030 with new projects in Clay, New York, and Boise, Idaho. GlobalFoundries announced new projects in Malta, New York, and Burlington, Vermont, that will create 10,500 construction and manufacturing jobs. Samsung announced plans to invest $40 billion to create 21,500 jobs across Texas. Those are just some of the more notable investments announced since the law took effect.

     Some of the most historically underserved communities in America are undergoing a historic revival because of President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, including the American Rescue Plan Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, Honoring Our PACT Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act. He's doing what too many Americans have had to wait decades for a president to do: focusing on the middle class. America needs to carry on his legacy by electing President Harris. To donate and make history, click here.