In Support of CHIPS Act as Part of Competitiveness and Innovation Legislation
Adopted at the 90th Annual Meeting in 2022
WHEREAS, 18 states are home to major semiconductor manufacturing facilities and the semiconductor industry directly employs over a quarter of a million people in the US and supports nearly 1.6 million additional U.S, jobs; and
WHEREAS, the Biden Administration recognizes the importance of the semiconductor manufacturing and has taken critical steps to strengthen the semiconductor supply chain and to ensure that there is an ecosystem of production, innovation, skilled workers, and diverse small and medium-sized suppliers to ensure that the semiconductor industry remains competitive; and
WHEREAS, the bipartisan Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act (CHIPS for America Act) legislation would invest tens of billions of dollars in semiconductor manufacturing incentives and research initiatives over the next 5-10 years to strengthen and sustain American leadership in chip technology; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, which passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, includes the CHIPS for America Act and would provide $52 billion to strengthen and invest in the semiconductor industry, and the critical good-paying jobs it supports; and
WHEREAS, the House of Representatives also passed competitiveness legislation called the America COMPETES Act, which also includes $52 billion in CHIPS Act investments, on Feb. 4, 2022; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors calls on Congress to reach an agreement on joint competitiveness and innovation legislation that includes CHIPS Act investments that can be passed by both chambers and signed into law by President Biden.