Governors, Mayors, Intel CEO Urge Chips Bill Passage

Congress shouldn’t leave for August recess without passing chips legislation and $52 billion in federal investment for semiconductor research and manufacturing, National Governors Association Chair Asa Hutchinson (R) of Arkansas and Vice Chair Phil Murphy (D) of New Jersey said Friday. The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger also urged lawmakers to pass the bill. The Senate plans to vote Tuesday to begin advancing a smaller chips package (see 2207140067). The $52 billion Chips Act is “absolutely critical” to national security, the governors said. The mayors urged Congress to include the Chips Act, support for STEM education and an investment tax credit in the final bill. “Do not go home for August recess until you have passed the Chips Act, because I and others in the industry will make investment decisions,” Gelsinger said on CNBC Friday. “Do you want those investments in the U.S. or are we simply not competitive enough to do them here and we need to go to Europe or Asia? Get the job done.”