CHIPS PASSED: Big win for Michigan workers

I have some incredible news for Michiganders – especially our auto workers: last week, the House passed the landmark CHIPS and Science Act, a bill that will encourage the production of microchips here in the U.S. and create thousands of new American manufacturing jobs.

Let’s be clear: this is a huge deal. By incentivizing companies to build new microchip plants here in the U.S., instead of places like China, this bill helps prevent future shortages like the ones that have shut down auto plants across the country, including GM’s Delta Township and Lansing Grand River plants. As we start to make more chips in the U.S., we’ll get thousands of workers back on the job and help bring prices down for consumers.

And as a former CIA officer, I know this bill is also critical for our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign suppliers for critical parts our military needs. This isn’t just an economic issue, it’s a national security issue too – by bringing this manufacturing back home, we’re ensuring that we can’t be held hostage by our adversaries in the event of a conflict with countries like China.

The legislation also takes care to make sure that the chip companies live up to their commitment to invest in American manufacturing. It includes prevailing wage requirements and other provisions that ensure U.S companies don’t buy back their own stock or invest in overseas chip projects.

As microchip shortages have wreaked havoc on our economy, I’ve been sounding the alarm for over a year. Last summer, I joined a group of UAW workers at a parking lot on MSU’s campus where GM was storing dozens of cars that couldn’t be shipped or sold because they were missing a 14-cent microchip.

The path to turning this bill into law has been long and winding, but today Congress finally showed that we’re ready for American – not Chinese – companies to lead the way in the global chip industry. 

– Rep. Elissa Slotkin