Shaheen Celebrates Historic U.S. Innovation, Global Competitiveness Law
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) – Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies – released the following statement today after President Biden signed into law the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.
The historic legislation develops U.S. policy to address strategic, economic and diplomatic tools for a global strategy that will allow the United States to confront the challenges that China and other global competitors pose to the United States. The comprehensive package invests in scientific research and microchips that are key to the economy and military, as well as strengthens domestic manufacturing and the supply chain.
“I’m thrilled the CHIPS and Science Act is now law of the land. This essential bill will help secure America’s role as a global leader in technology and address domestic supply chain issues that worsened during the pandemic. The U.S. will now be on track to produce advanced semiconductors, which run everything from cell phones to washing machines – lowering costs on these everyday items, reducing supply chain bottlenecks and creating good-paying jobs at home,” said Shaheen. “I’m especially proud that provisions I authored are included in the final package, including those that strengthen and diversify the pipeline of students in STEM fields. I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation that invests in the U.S. workforce and our national security, particularly as we face rising threats from China. This bill is a game-changer in U.S. innovation and competition, and I look forward to working through my role as Chair of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee to ensure successful implementation of this Act.”
Specifically, the CHIPS and Science Act includes:
- $52 billion in grants and incentives to attract chip companies to the United States and invest in research and development to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing
- Authorization of more than $80 billion in National Science Foundation funding for research and education, including to support critical research into areas of national priority and support Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education
- This includes funding specifically dedicated to growing the American STEM workforce including key provisions from Shaheen’s Supporting STEM Learning Opportunities Act and funding to improve access to STEM education opportunities for schools in rural areas.
- Restrictions on companies that receive federal assistance and invest in China and Russia
- $500 million for an international secure communications system
- $200 million for training a chips workforce
- $1.5 billion for innovation in public wireless supply chains
- Authorization of $10 billion to establish 20 regional technology hubs through the Economic Development Administration (EDA)
- Authorization of $1 billion to support economic development activities in economically distressed communities through EDA
- Authorization of $10 billion for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for research and manufacturing partnerships
- Authorization of $68 billion for the Office of Science and other science and innovation activities at the U.S. Department of Energy
- Authorizations for key programs at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- And more.
Through her leadership on the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Shaheen has been a strong advocate for STEM education and scientific research funding priorities. Shaheen secured inclusion of language based on her bipartisan Supporting STEM Learning Opportunities Act to allow funds to support research and development of innovative STEM educational programming, including afterschool and other outside of the classroom activities. This language seeks to improve federal investment in experiential learning opportunities to strengthen the pipeline of students entering the STEM workforce, especially from traditionally underrepresented groups like women and communities of color. Shaheen recently visited the University of New Hampshire’s (UNH) Tech Camp to meet with students and teachers to discuss their groundbreaking work and research, on the heels of the Senate’s passage of the CHIPS and Science Act.
###
