Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

US Air Force to Offer Military Funeral Honors to Slain Capitol Rioter

41 minutes ago

US Republican Senator Joni Ernst Will Not Run for Re-Election, CBS News Reports

2 hours ago

Wall Street Falls as Dell, Nvidia Drive Tech Losses

2 hours ago

Minneapolis Children Revealed Courage, Absorbed Fear During Church Shooting

23 hours ago

Ford Recalls Nearly 500,000 Vehicles Over Brake Fluid Leak

1 day ago

Fresno-Bound Passenger Says Delta Attendant Slapped Him, Seeks $20M

1 day ago

Enjoy a Meal at Fresno’s Lazy Dog and Support Valley Crime Stoppers

1 day ago

How California Lawmakers Can Trim Up to 20% Off Consumer Electric Bills

1 day ago
House Passes Bill to Boost US Computer Chip Production
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
February 4, 2022

Share

 

Democrats muscled through legislation in the House on Friday that they say positions the United States to better compete with China economically and on the global stage by strengthening the domestic semiconductor industry and shoring up strained supply chains.

The bill passed by a vote of 222-210. It marks an important step for a top Biden administration priority, but the legislation is likely to be extensively revised as negotiators reconcile differences with what the Senate passed about eight months ago. President Joe Biden urged lawmakers to reach a deal quickly, saying, “America can’t afford to wait.”

Grants and Subsidies to Chip Industry

The nearly 3,000-page bill, not counting scores of amendments added this week, includes massive investments designed to boost semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. The big-ticket items include about $52 billion in grants and subsidies to help the semiconductor industry and $45 billion to strengthen supply chains for high-tech products.

But Democrats also tucked in other priorities that have raised GOP concerns about the bill’s cost and scope. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois was the only Republican to vote for the measure, while Rep. Stephanie Murphy of Florida was the only Democrat to vote against it.

The bill includes $8 billion for a fund that helps developing countries adjust to climate change; $3 billion for facilities to make the U.S. less reliant on Chinese solar components; $4 billion to help communities with significantly higher unemployment than the national average; and $10.5 billion for states to stockpile drugs and medical equipment.

Democrats were in a celebratory mood prior to the vote after the latest jobs report showed employers added 467,000 jobs in January. They said the legislation would lead to more good news on that front.

“The bill we’re talking about today is a jobs bill, a jobs bill for manufacturing in America, for making it in America,” Pelosi said.

Biden Highlights Vote at White House Event

The bill gives Democrats a chance to address voter concerns about the economy at a time when a shortage of computer chips has led to higher prices for automobiles, electronics and medical devices. To show his administration is addressing inflation concerns, Biden highlighted the vote at a White House event Friday and reminded Americans of Intel’s announcement two weeks ago that it would be building two computer chip production plants in Ohio.

Republicans, who for months have hammered Democrats over rising inflation, panned the measure as “toothless” and short of what is needed to hold China accountable for a range of economic and human rights actions. They also said it would waste taxpayer dollars on environmental initiatives and other unnecessary programs.

“This bill is actually just a long list of progressive dream policies that have nothing to do with China at all,” said Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met with House Democratic lawmakers this week to discuss the bill. She said the most “urgent need” in the bill is the $52 billion for domestic chip production because of the global chip shortage’s effect on the economy, including the automotive sector, and the national security implications of having so many semiconductors made overseas.

“We just cannot wait anymore,” she told reporters Friday. “We are so far behind. We’re in such a dangerous place as a matter of national security just because of our reliance on Taiwan for our most sophisticated, leading-edge chips.”

Big chipmakers like Intel and Samsung have recently announced plans to build new factories in the U.S., but Raimondo noted they have also indicated they could go “bigger and faster” with federal help.

Climate Change Funding Also Included

One of the biggest flashpoints is the $8 billion in the legislation to help developing countries reduce their emissions and cope with climate change. Former President Barack Obama pledged $3 billion toward the fund, but former President Donald Trump withheld $2 billion of that.

Rep. Michael McCaul, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called it an “unaccountable UN slush fund” that has already provided at least $100 million to China.

Meanwhile, America’s share of semiconductor manufacturing globally has steadily eroded from 37% in 1990 to about 12% now. The Biden administration and lawmakers are trying to reverse that trend, which industry officials say is driven by foreign competitors receiving significant government subsidies.

The pandemic has strained the supply chain for the chips. The Commerce Department issued a report last week that found the median inventory of some semiconductor products had fallen from 40 days in 2019 to less than five days in 2021. The report also said stakeholders don’t see the problem going away in the next six months. The administration cited the findings in calling for Congress to act.

Tensions With China Reflected in Bill

Tensions with China are reflected in much the legislation. In a nod to concerns about the origins of COVID-19, the bill directs the president to submit a report to Congress on the most likely origin of the virus, the level of confidence in that assessment and the challenges of making such as assessment.

Republicans dismissed the provision as “no independent investigation, no sanctions, no punishment.” They want a select committee of lawmakers to look into the origins of COVID-19. “Instead of taking action to get a real accountability, it’s going to ask them for a report,” said Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California.

Another provision would subject more lower-cost products made in China to tariffs. Currently, imports valued at less than $800 are exempted from expedited processing and tariffs. The bill eliminates the threshold for certain countries, most notably China.

The Senate passed its computer chips legislation in June by a vote of 68-32, representing a rare bout of bipartisanship on major legislation. Negotiators will now try to work out a compromise both chambers can accept, though it’s uncertain they could do so before the midterm elections.

Raimondo called for swift negotiations with the Senate. Whatever emerges will need support from 10 Republicans in the 50-50 Senate to be passed into law. She voiced confidence a compromise will be found.

“There’s no irreconcilable differences, I can say that,” Raimondo said.

“We’ll send House Republicans a much better option to vote on in the next couple of months,” said Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., who worked with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on the Senate’s version of the legislation.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Ends Security Protection for Former Vice President Harris

DON'T MISS

Fresno Labor Day Traffic Alert for Motorists Using Maroa Avenue

DON'T MISS

Turkey Bars Israeli Ships from Its Ports, Restricts Airspace

DON'T MISS

UK, France, Germany Urge Iran to Agree to Deal to Delay UN Sanctions

DON'T MISS

US Air Force to Offer Military Funeral Honors to Slain Capitol Rioter

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Coordinators Outline Bulldog Bounceback for Georgia Southern

DON'T MISS

Gentle Sweet Sasha Is Guaranteed to Steal Your Heart

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police to Increase DUI Patrols on Labor Day Weekend

DON'T MISS

US Republican Senator Joni Ernst Will Not Run for Re-Election, CBS News Reports

DON'T MISS

Wall Street Falls as Dell, Nvidia Drive Tech Losses

UP NEXT

Fresno State Coordinators Outline Bulldog Bounceback for Georgia Southern

UP NEXT

Gentle Sweet Sasha Is Guaranteed to Steal Your Heart

UP NEXT

Clovis Police to Increase DUI Patrols on Labor Day Weekend

UP NEXT

US Republican Senator Joni Ernst Will Not Run for Re-Election, CBS News Reports

UP NEXT

Wall Street Falls as Dell, Nvidia Drive Tech Losses

UP NEXT

Israeli Military Says Local Tactical Pause Will Not Apply to Gaza City

UP NEXT

Microsoft Fires Four Workers for on-Site Protests Over Company’s Ties to Israel

UP NEXT

Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to 16,467 Acres. 1,100 Personnel on Site

UP NEXT

US Consumer Spending Strong in July, Services Inflation Warms Up

UP NEXT

Visalia Stabbing Sends Two to Hospital, Suspect in Custody

UK, France, Germany Urge Iran to Agree to Deal to Delay UN Sanctions

28 minutes ago

US Air Force to Offer Military Funeral Honors to Slain Capitol Rioter

41 minutes ago

Fresno State Coordinators Outline Bulldog Bounceback for Georgia Southern

1 hour ago

Gentle Sweet Sasha Is Guaranteed to Steal Your Heart

2 hours ago

Clovis Police to Increase DUI Patrols on Labor Day Weekend

2 hours ago

US Republican Senator Joni Ernst Will Not Run for Re-Election, CBS News Reports

2 hours ago

Wall Street Falls as Dell, Nvidia Drive Tech Losses

2 hours ago

Israeli Military Says Local Tactical Pause Will Not Apply to Gaza City

3 hours ago

Microsoft Fires Four Workers for on-Site Protests Over Company’s Ties to Israel

4 hours ago

Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to 16,467 Acres. 1,100 Personnel on Site

4 hours ago

Trump Ends Security Protection for Former Vice President Harris

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump has canceled Secret Service protection for former vice president and 2024 Democratic rival...

4 minutes ago

4 minutes ago

Trump Ends Security Protection for Former Vice President Harris

railroad crossing
8 minutes ago

Fresno Labor Day Traffic Alert for Motorists Using Maroa Avenue

12 minutes ago

Turkey Bars Israeli Ships from Its Ports, Restricts Airspace

28 minutes ago

UK, France, Germany Urge Iran to Agree to Deal to Delay UN Sanctions

41 minutes ago

US Air Force to Offer Military Funeral Honors to Slain Capitol Rioter

Georgia Southern at Fresno State Bulldogs Football
1 hour ago

Fresno State Coordinators Outline Bulldog Bounceback for Georgia Southern

Sasha GV Wire's Adoptable Pet of the Week
2 hours ago

Gentle Sweet Sasha Is Guaranteed to Steal Your Heart

2 hours ago

Clovis Police to Increase DUI Patrols on Labor Day Weekend

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend