U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., today called for major economic legislation that would invest in domestic chip manufacturing.
Rep. Davids made her remarks at the United Autoworkers Local 31 hall in the Fairfax area of Kansas City, Kansas.
Rep. Davids met with business and labor leaders at the General Motors Fairfax Assembly and Stamping Plant in Fairfax. The plant was closed for several months last year because of the semiconductor “chip” shortage, and the second shift was laid off for most of last year.
Rep. Davids voted for the bipartisan America Competes Act earlier this month, which includes incentives for domestic chip production, resources to strengthen supply chains and reduce inflation, and policies that will promote American global leadership. Her amendment passed the House, ensuring that small and mid-sized manufacturers are given opportunities to participate in federal supply chain upgrades.
“Chips are essential components of the things Kansans use daily, from cars to computers to CPAP machines, and the shortage has been driving prices up across industries. I heard that firsthand from our local General Motors plant here in Fairfax,” Rep. Davids said. “We need to make more of these crucial materials here at home. These are the types of bipartisan policies that are going to make a real difference, from the factory floor to the kitchen table.”
“We appreciate Rep. Davids’ focus on critical supply chains including U.S. production of semiconductors to alleviate the ongoing shortage that continues to impact U.S. automotive manufacturing. The secure supply of semiconductors is absolutely critical for our work here at General Motors Fairfax Assembly plant and our over 2,000 employees,” said Steve Notar Donato, executive director of the General Motors Fairfax Assembly and Stamping Plant. “While there has been improvement, ensuring a steady supply is necessary to help support American jobs, maintain national security and provide consumers with the vehicles they need.”
“For seven months last year, the Fairfax GM floor was empty because of the chips shortage. In no way is that good for our workers, for our customers, or for our economy. I applaud Rep. Davids for her relentless support for workers now and into the future,” said Clarence “C.B.” Brown, president of UAW Local 31.
“These pieces of legislation are critical to advancing the technological capabilities of our nation while bringing new investments in research, innovation, and American manufacturing to the Greater Kansas City region,” said Adam Timmerman, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. “As a chamber of commerce representing over 2,000 businesses across the bistate region, we will continue to advocate for legislation that turbocharges our research capacity to lead the technologies of the future, that solidifies and accelerates U.S. production of critical semiconductor chips, that strengthens the supply chain to make more goods in America, and that will advance our global competitiveness. Thank you, Representative Davids , for your support for this critical piece of legislation.”
According to a Joint Economic Committee report, the U.S. has lost over a quarter of its manufacturing jobs since 2000, and production of critical materials like chips—which are used in computers, cars, washing machines, and more—has increasingly moved overseas. This shortage has been contributing to inflation and supply chain difficulties across industries. In addition to Davids’ meeting with the General Motors plant this week, she recently visited local medical device suppliers who rely on chips and have been struggling to serve patients amid the ongoing shortage. The America COMPETES Act includes $52 billion to support domestic production of chips.
The America Competes Act has a bipartisan companion in the Senate and support from the National Association of Manufacturers and the AFL-CIO. A fact sheet on the America Competes Act is available at https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/0ebd7455-4191-4448-8b89-b509ca751d5c/competes-act-fact-sheet-final-feb.pdf from the Joint Economic Committee, of which Davids is a member.
- Story and photo from Rep. Davids’ office