WASHINGTON – Today, Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly and Representative Greg Stanton led a bipartisan group of 70 Senators and Representatives in requesting that President Biden fully fund initiatives to expand semiconductor manufacturing on American soil and create high-paying jobs authorized in the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act that were enacted as part of the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act.
Arizona, home to 16 semiconductor companies, is a leading state in chip manufacturing with companies looking to expand their existing operations in the state. Recently, Sinema and Kelly applauded Intel’s announcement to build two new chip factories in Arizona amidst the global chip shortage. Additionally, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced its plans to build a mega site with six factories in Arizona which would create thousands of good-paying manufacturing jobs for Arizonans. Samsung Electronics is also actively considering opening a new U.S. manufacturing facility in Phoenix.
“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,” said Senator Kyrsten Sinema.
“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,” said Senator Mark Kelly.
“The bipartisan CHIPS initiative is critical for both our economy and our national security—and now we need to ensure it is fully funded,” said Rep. Greg Stanton. “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,” said Representative Greg Stanton.
Sinema, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, was an original cosponsor of the CHIPS for America Act and championed its passage into law. Last month, Kelly held a call with a group of Republican and Democratic Senators and Brian Deese, chairman of the National Economic Council, to discuss the need to quickly provide full funding for the CHIPS for America Act programs included in last year’s bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act, which included key elements of the CHIPS for America Act that will bring semiconductor manufacturing jobs to Arizona.
The full text of the letter is HERE.
