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Senate passes massive package to boost U.S. computer chip production
[....] The 64-33 vote represents a rare bipartisan victory a little more than three months before the crucial November midterms; 17 Republicans joined all Democrats in voting yes. The package, known as "CHIPS-plus," now heads to the House, which is expected to pass it by the end of the week and send it to President Joe Biden for his signature.
[....] The centerpiece of the package is more than $50 billion in subsidies for domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research.
Supporters on Capitol Hill, as well as key members of Biden's Cabinet, have argued that making microchips at home — rather than relying on chipmakers in China, Taiwan and elsewhere — is critical to U.S. national security, especially when it comes to chips used for weapons and military equipment.
[...] The final chips bill is a slimmed-down version of a much broader China competitiveness package that House and Senate lawmakers had been negotiating. Earlier, the Senate passed its bill, known as USICA, while the House passed its own version, the America COMPETES Act. But lawmakers couldn't resolve their differences, and leading Democrats decided to switch their strategy and scale back the legislation.
The package also includes tens of billions more in authorizations for science and research programs, as well as for regional technology hubs around the country.
If passed, will this be well spent? Will the US actually be globally competitive in chip manufacture?
(Score: 2, Flamebait) by Gaaark on Friday July 29 2022, @03:21PM (3 children)
If the US can manufacture their own chips, they can then abandon Taiwan if necessary: supporting Taiwan from a distance will be difficult.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Friday July 29 2022, @03:39PM (2 children)
Doesn't anybody wonder why manufacturing has moved away from the US and to Taiwan in the first place?
Cuz once the US has rebuilt its capability to manufacture chips and the subsidies are gone, the exact same thing will happen again.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Gaaark on Friday July 29 2022, @03:52PM
That's what legislation is for:
"The US will only purchase American made chips or devices with American made chips, manufactured in America, by Americans."
Costs go up and jobs stay: WIN/WIN......ermmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by legont on Saturday July 30 2022, @03:27AM
Steve Jobs tried to make his things in the US and failed. Twice.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.