Senate Passes Bipartisan Chips Permitting Bill for the Second Time

Sen. Kelly, bipartisan colleagues in the House and Senate first introduced the Building Chips in America in July; it passed as a part of the Senate NDAA later that month

Today, the Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Building Chips in America Act, a bill to streamline federal reviews for microchip manufacturing facilities sponsored by Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and cosponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Todd Young (R-IN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ). 

The group first introduced the Building Chips in America Act in July alongside bipartisan colleagues in the House. Later that month, the bill was attached as an amendment to the Senate’s version of the defense bill and passed the chamber, but it was not included in the final compromise version of the defense bill that passed Congress this week. In October, the group led a bipartisan, bicameral letter with 119 signers in support of passing these permitting reforms. 

“Once again, the Senate made clear that streamlining our current permitting system for semiconductor manufacturing projects is an urgent, bipartisan priority,” said Senator Kelly. “ Now the House—where our bill enjoys broad support from Republicans and Democrats—has the chance to take up this bill to maximize the impact of the CHIPS Act, bringing microchip manufacturing and good-paying jobs back to America without delay.” 

“I am pleased that my effort with Senator Mark Kelly and our Senate colleagues to expedite the construction of semiconductor manufacturing plants has now passed the Senate. This legislation removes the needless bureaucratic delays that are weakening national and economic security. Members of the House of Representatives who care about permitting reform and national security must now take up and pass this important, bipartisan legislation so it quickly becomes law,” said Senator Cruz.  

“The CHIPS and Science Act included manufacturing incentives vital to increasing chip production here in the U.S., protecting our national security interests and boosting our economic security at the same time. However, as implementation proceeds, unnecessary regulatory burdens are threatening to slow down these critical investments in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and pause construction that has already begun,” said Senator Young. “The Building Chips in America Act will cut red tape and solidify our nation’s ability to successfully onshore chip production as quickly as possible. I’m pleased to see this important legislation pass the U.S. Senate once again as we continue to push to get it enacted.” 

“By investing in Ohio semiconductor manufacturing and Ohio talent, we can restore critical supply chains, help lower costs for Ohioans, and create thousands of jobs,” said Senator Brown. “This legislation will help prevent delays to semiconductor manufacturing projects the CHIPS Act made possible and encourage future investments in American manufacturing. Politicians in the House should stop playing games and finally pass this much-needed legislation – which is critical to ensuring that we can outcompete China.”  

“Our nation’s economic and national security demands that we bring back—as quickly as possible—American production of strategic commodities like semiconductors, which requires eliminating the unnecessary bureaucratic red tape that stands in the way,” said Senator Hagerty. “I am pleased to see the Senate pass this legislation to speed up these crucial American projects and advance commonsense permitting reform.” 

“New Mexico has long been at the cutting edge of the semiconductor industry. With a culture of innovation and a diverse pool of talent, New Mexico is well-positioned to rapidly advance national goals for semiconductor innovation,” said Senator Heinrich. “Building Chips in America will be key to realizing the full potential of domestic semiconductor fabrication and I look forward to continuing the work to ensure New Mexico’s leadership in this industry.”