Beatty Votes to Pass $52+ Billion Semiconductor Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congresswoman and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty (OH-03) voted to pass the CHIPS and Science Act, a bipartisan bill to bolster American semiconductor chip production. Beatty was intimately involved in the crafting and negotiation of the CHIPS and Science Act, working to ensure Central Ohio institutions and communities would benefit from the funding. Critically, Beatty secured language in the final bill to ensure funding makes its way to historically underserved communities and businesses.

“For Ohioans, the importance of the CHIPS and Science Act cannot be overstated,” said Beatty. “Even beyond the thousands of jobs it will generate in Central Ohio, this is an investment in American technological and manufacturing dominance. By bringing computer chip production back to the US, we will lower costs for Americans, create thousands of good-paying union jobs, bolster STEM R&D, and end our dangerous dependence on foreign manufacturers. Coupled with Intel’s historic investment, this funding will rebuild America’s rich manufacturing tradition and usher in a new Silicon Heartland. I am grateful to the Partnership, our local business community, and our local government leaders for coming together to support this legislation.” 

The CHIPS and Science Act will deliver a powerful investment in America’s global competitiveness – creating jobs, slashing kitchen table costs, ending dependence on foreign manufacturers, and turbocharging American innovation. It is estimated the legislation will create nearly 100,000 new American Davis-Bacon jobs.

“The CHIPS and Science Act is a win for Ohio workers and our local communities that will see massive job creation while driving down inflation,” said Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga. “We applaud the U.S. House of Representatives and the leadership of Congresswoman Joyce Beatty in securing passage of the CHIPS Act to drive domestic semiconductor production, ensuring access to current and future critical technologies that increase our economic and national security.”

The bill also includes major investments in the National Science Foundation for cutting edge research and development, expanding opportunities for STEM education at Ohio institutions like Central State University, Columbus State Community College, and The Ohio State University. 

“Investment in the domestic semiconductor industry is critical to keeping our nation strong and competitive,” said Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson. “This bill recognizes the importance of realizing that goal by making strategic investments in research and development, overcoming supply chain challenges, and cultivating the workforce of the future. Ohio State is deeply committed to playing a key role in economic growth both locally – particularly related to the Silicon Heartland initiative – and across the U.S., and we are grateful to Representative Joyce Beatty for her support.”

Funding from the bill will in part go to support the construction of Intel’s planned semiconductor plant, scheduled to begin construction in New Albany, Ohio, in the coming months. The plant is expected to create 3,000 permanent Intel jobs and an additional 7,000 construction jobs over the course of the build, and support tens of thousands of additional local long-term jobs across a broad array of suppliers and partners. At full buildout, the total investment in the site could grow to as much as $100 billion over the next decade, making it one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing sites in the world.

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