Idaho Republicans voted against a bill to make U.S semiconductor manufacturers competitive globally, create jobs in Idaho, and lower the price of goods
This Week, Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson voted against the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act – legislation to create jobs in Idaho and secure our domestic supply chains. This bill could have significant positive impacts on Idaho’s economy; semiconductor devices are the state’s leading export.
“Idaho’s computer chip manufacturing industry provides good jobs and is critical to our state’s economy. The CHIPS and Science Act is a popular, bipartisan bill that will ensure our manufacturers stay competitive on a global scale. Without domestic computer chip production, our nation is vulnerable from both a security and a supply chain perspective. I can’t understand why Idaho’s Republican Congressman would play politics with a core component of our state’s economy,” said Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea.
According to the Washington Post, the bill that Idaho Republicans voted against, “would provide $52 billion in subsidies to domestic semiconductor manufacturers…in a bid to strengthen the United States’ competitiveness and self-reliance in what is seen as a keystone industry for economic and national security.” The U.S. Census Bureau reports semiconductor devices are Idaho’s leading export, valued at $265 million in 2020. Idaho’s semiconductor industry supports more than 8,200 high-paying jobs, with an output valued at $2.3 billion and 2.84 percent of Idaho’s GDP.
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For more information or interview requests, contact:
Avery Roberts, Communications Director for the Idaho Democratic Party
208-305-5610 or avery@idahodems.org