WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Today, the bipartisan Problem Solvers issued the following Caucus-endorsed statement calling on the House Speaker to bring the bipartisan United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) or CHIPS Plus approach to the House Floor before the end of July:  

“From stretched supply chains for critical goods to manufacturing shortages, our nation is facing unprecedented challenges in our strategic competition with China that are holding domestic producers back. We must take the initiative by investing in American competitiveness and addressing major supply chain issues.

“The bipartisan United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 (USICA) will boost domestic manufacturing, accelerate U.S. production of semiconductor chips, reduce our reliance on foreign countries like China, and help lower costs for families and small businesses, all while creating new US jobs.

“Semiconductor manufacturing is central to our ability to compete with Communist China and forms the core of USICA under the CHIPS provisions. American defense and civilian applications of artificial intelligence, next-generation wireless technology, and biotechnology require a competitive and self-sufficient domestic semiconductor industry. Commerce Secretary Raimondo and Defense Secretary Austin explained in their letter to Congressional leadership how important it is to act now:

‘If we miss this window, the United States will fall further behind in global semiconductor production and jeopardize our advantage in next generation design. Further, we will entrench our overdependency on other nations for our semiconductors – a vulnerability that requires immediate action.’

“We had hoped both Chambers could find common solutions on the differences between their respective bills. Unfortunately, the House and Senate have been unable to bridge their differences about the most contentious aspects of the legislation. As Senate Minority Leader McConnell stated, ‘the conference is stuck.’ The House now can either pass USICA or take an approach often referred to as CHIPS Plus, combining full funding for CHIPS with other agreed upon provisions from the stalled conference.

“Those additional provisions to be incorporated into CHIPS Plus include:

  •          A Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the National Science Foundation, which is crucial for the next generation of game-changing technologies, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and hypersonics.
  •          Regional technology hubs, which will position more regions across the country to be global centers for translational research, development, and manufacturing of key technologies.
  •          Stronger safeguards to protect U.S. research and intellectual property from theft by foreign adversaries. These are precisely the investments we need to make sure we are ready for strategic competition.

“Given how crucially important this legislation is for our ability to compete with China, we urgently request that the Speaker of the House bring USICA or a CHIPS Plus bill to the House floor before the end of July. Swiftly passing this legislation through the House will give America’s manufacturers confidence to invest in good paying jobs while taking on China and helping fix our supply chains.

“We owe it to the American people to make progress on these critical issues that matter to them without delay.”

Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Co-Chair Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) brought the statement for endorsement, which garnered the support of more than 75 percent of the Caucus. 

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The Problem Solvers Caucus is a bipartisan group in Congress comprised of 58 members – equally divided between Democrats and Republicans – committed to forging bipartisan cooperation on key issues.