Kelly, Budd Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Microchip Manufacturing Workforce

The legislators first introduced this bill in July of 2024

Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the bipartisan CHIPS Training in America Act, a bipartisan plan to strategically boost the microchip manufacturing workforce to meet the demand created by semiconductor manufacturers establishing or expanding their operations in the United States.

Since 2020, companies in the semiconductor ecosystem have announced more than 140 projects across 30 states, totaling over $645 billion in private investment and expected to create or support more than 525,000 U.S. jobs. The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) estimates that, without changes, the United States will fall short of meeting growing demand for microchip manufacturing workers, with the majority of unfilled jobs being technician positions that do not require a four-year degree.

"This bill builds the workforce pipeline we need to fill thousands of good-paying microchip manufacturing jobs while strengthening our economy and national security," said Kelly. "By training technicians, upskilling community college students, and linking employers to local talent, we're turning investments from the Chips and Science Act into real jobs for Arizona families. I'm glad to partner on this effort with Senator Budd-together, we'll get this done."

"To maintain American excellence in microchip design and manufacturing, we need to unlock the potential of our workforce to meet rising demand. By forging partnerships between community colleges and semiconductor manufacturers, more Americans will have the opportunity to receive the skilled trades education they need to secure good-paying jobs in this expanding sector of our economy. I am proud to lead this strategic legislation alongside Senator Kelly to drive American competitiveness while also making a worthwhile investment in our future workforce," said Budd.

"On behalf of the Arizona Community College Coordinating Council (AC4), we would like to express our deepest appreciation to Senator Kelly, for re-introducing the CHIPS Training in America Act and his continuing support of Arizona community colleges. Arizona leads the nation in semi-conductor manufacturing growth and part of that reason is the ability of our ten community college districts to help grow the necessary workforce for that growth and expansion. We are aware and appreciative of the ongoing efforts of Senator Kelly to ensure workforce funds are appropriated through the CHIPS Act and used in their most efficient and effective manner. The bill, which would create a grant program for community colleges to ensure we are supplying the necessary workforce, is critical to AC4's ability to continue to serve vital industries, such as semi-conductors, microelectronics, computer science, and engineering," said Dr. Steven Gonzales, Chancellor of the Maricopa Community Colleges and Chair of AC4.

Background:

The CHIPS Training in America Act will ensure a coordinated, cohesive federal investment in microelectronics workforce development. Specifically, the bill uses existing appropriations to:

• Require the development and maintenance of a national microelectronics workforce development strategic plan, including short-term goals and metrics.

• Authorize the National Semiconductor Technology Center to develop and disseminate degree, credential, and certificate frameworks in microelectronics and semiconductor workforce development programs.

• Establish a grant program to expand workforce development programs in semiconductor and related fields through partnerships among industry, states and localities, and community colleges or career and technical programs.

• Encourage industry investment in workforce development programs that work to fulfill the requirements of their CHIPS agreements to invest in workforce development.

Click here to read the full text of the bill.