WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement celebrating the Senate passage of essential legislation to lower costs, boost innovation, and protect our national security with investments in semiconductor manufacturing and domestic supply chains.
“Strengthening manufacturing in America is a win-win. If we don’t make things in America, we won’t have a middle class in America. Our modern economy is built on tiny chips, and we can grow the middle class and protect our national security with strong domestic supply chains. And since Oregon is the backbone of the American semiconductor industry, Oregon especially stands to gain from this bill.
“The pandemic alone didn’t cause the chip shortage—it shed light on existing fault lines in our manufacturing infrastructure. We’ve learned the hard way how desperately we need these investments in American workers to produce chips here at home instead of sourcing chips made abroad. This bipartisan legislation passed by the Senate cements American competitiveness and ensures we stay at the forefront of innovation.
“This legislation is also a critical step in competing with China, which is about revitalizing our ability to level the playing field. Today is only a first step and we cannot stop here. Congress must come back and pass other bipartisan provisions that ensure American values for human rights and democracy remain a centerpiece of our relationship with China.”
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