‘Chips for America’ would return computer chip production to the U.S.

U-S Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo joined Kirkland Congresswoman Susan DelBene on Monday for a last-minute push to bring computer chip manufacturing back to American soil.

“The global share of chip manufacturing has dropped from nearly 40% in 1990 to just 12% today,” DelBene told reporters during a virtual news conference “and many foreign competitors including the Chinese government are investing heavily to dominate the industry.”

The pandemic and then supply chain delays sounded the computer chip warning siren. DelBene sits on a committee negotiating the ‘Chips for America’ act in congress. It’s a $52 billion investment in the domestic production of semiconductor chips.

“There’s no doubt about it, they have to!” US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says a global expansion is underway, “The only question is: where will they expand? And, if congress doesn’t pass that chips legislation this week, these companies will expand in countries giving these sorts of incentives.”

DelBene says the U-S is dependent on Taiwan and South Korea for 80-percent of its semi-conductor chips.

“I hosted a roundtable recently with our local employers,” that hits home for the Kirkland Democrat whose district sits in the heart of Washington’s robust high-tech industry, “they’re all very concerned about the lack of chips.”

Computer chips make everything go, from cars to refrigerators and computers. But, the high cost is now pricing some product manufacturers out of the market

There appears to be support on both sides of the isle in congress; and Raimondo says the ‘Chips for America’ act could be on President Joe Biden’s desk by next week.