CHIPS and Science Act Signed Into Law; President Touts American Competitiveness
by Lisbeth Lyons, Director, Women in Print Alliance Aug 10, 2022

On August 9, President Biden held a signing ceremony to put his stamp of approval on the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 thereby enacting the legislation into law. Biden hailed the bill, which in its final form provides $52.7 billion in subsidies for US semiconductor production, R&D, and advancements in science and technology, as a “once-in-a-generation investment in America itself.”

At this time there is no date certain when the US Department of Commerce will release rules relating to grants and underwritten chip production projects. However, companies have responded to the new law favorably.

Two days before the bill signing, Qualcomm announced it would purchase an additional $4.2 billion in semiconductor chips from GlobalFoundries’ New York plant. Micron also jumped on the chips bandwagon by announcing a $40 billion investment that would boost Us market share from 2 percent to 10 percent; the company attributed “anticipated grants” from the Act as impetus for the investment. This follows recent announcements by Samsung and Intel that the corporations were exploring options to locate major chip making factories in Texas and Ohio, respectively.

Both Republican and Democrat lawmakers attended the bill signing ceremony. While the legislation was not without opposition, the rallying cry for American economic and national security won out. Many Senators and Representatives (even those who would typically vote for public subsidization of private businesses) cited the fact that both China and the European Union were expending millions of dollars in tax or other subsidies to accelerate semiconductor chip production within their own borders as a reason to vote for the Act.

PRINTING United Alliance supported passage of the CHIPS and Science Act as one potential medium- to long-term solution to help alleviate supply chain concerns to keep print equipment costs competitive in the future.


Business
Lisbeth Lyons Director, Women in Print Alliance
Hire This Expert

Lisbeth became the first-ever Director of Women in Print Alliance in December 2022, following more than 20 years of representing the voice of business and industry on Capitol Hill – including 15 years focused on the print, postal, and packaging sectors – as a federally registered lobbyist. In her current role, Lisbeth directs strategic industry initiatives designed to attract, retain, advance, and advocate for women in the printing industry through education, personal and professional development, networking, and community building. Lisbeth holds a B.A. from DePauw University and a professional graduate certificate from The George Washington University School of Political Management. She is often a featured speaker at premiere industry events.

Speaking Topics:

  • Industry initiatives to attract, retain, and advance women in the printing industry
  • Advocacy on public policy related to women the workplace
  • Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the printing industry
  • Engaging company stakeholders to build community and political capital
  • Role of women in government affairs and industry trade associations

Related Content

California Provides Sample Workplace Violence Prevention Plan

California is the first state in the country to pass a law that requires employers to have a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP). The law, passed on September 30, 2023, amended an existing California law and now requires most California employers to implement a WVPP by July 1, 2024. All but the smallest printing companies in California are covered by the WVPP law.

EPA Denies WA State Ecology’s Request to Reduce Allowable PCB Concentrations

On April 4, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally denied a request from the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) to reduce allowable inadvertent polychlorinated biphenyls (iPCBs) limits in consumer products. Ecology petitioned EPA three months ago in January of 2024 as a result of a bill passed last year requiring Ecology to petition the EPA to reexamine the federal PCB limits under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

California and the SEC Are Being Sued for Their Climate Reporting Requirements

Recently, both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and California have passed climate-related disclosure mandates for certain types and sizes of companies. In March of 2024, the SEC approved its final rule after almost two years since the initial proposal, while California got ahead of the game and enacted SB 253 and SB 261 in October of 2023 as part of the state’s larger Climate Accountability Package.
}