May 14, 2022
Dear Friends,
With individuals and families across the Capital Region and nation feeling the pain of inflation, it is more important than ever to take strong action that supports Americans, strengthens the economy, and lowers costs for consumers.
A critical piece of that fight includes addressing supply chain shortages and boosting America’s competitiveness. This week, bipartisan negotiations began on legislation that will tackle the urgent challenges our nation is facing while taking forward-thinking, long-term action to secure a strong economic future for us all.
On Thursday, the House and Senate began the process of reconciling two pieces of manufacturing investment legislation—the House’s America COMPETES Act and the Senate’s United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA). I spoke on the urgent need for this transformative bill, and was proud to author several provisions included in our House-passed COMPETES Act, and I’ll fight hard over the coming weeks to make sure these initiatives are included in the final bill.
These measures include:
- A $52 billion investment in the CHIPS for America Act that will incentivize private-sector investments and continued American leadership in semiconductor fabrication, helping address supply chain disruptions and ensuring that more semiconductors are produced on U.S. soil. These investments will directly support job creation in the Capital Region.
- My bipartisan Micro Act that will accelerate early-stage microelectronics research at the Department of Energy to feed into the National Semiconductor Technology Center and American manufacturing facilities, including some right here in the Capital Region.
- My Flex Tech legislation, which will establish a program for states to support manufacturers by funding energy studies and the implementation of recommendations from those studies. Many states already have successful programs to support industrial energy efficiency, and this provision would build on those efforts.
- My Restoring Offshore Wind Opportunities Act that will overturn the arbitrary Trump-era ban on new offshore wind leasing and generate key opportunities to lead in this emerging industry and create new manufacturing jobs right here in the Capital Region as we propel our nation’s transition to a cleaner, more competitive economy of the future.
A strong bill that adequately addresses the needs of American manufacturing and boosts our nation’s competitiveness abroad must include all of these measures, and much more.
As one of only a few engineers in Congress, I know the enormous impact that investments in research and development can have on boosting economic development, and I’ve seen firsthand that these investments can also create thousands of good-paying jobs.
Our Capital Region has so much to gain from strong investments in semiconductor manufacturing, and is uniquely poised to be a global hub for emerging fields like chip fabrication and clean energy development. Investments in semiconductor technology will support Capital Region manufacturers like IBM and GlobalFoundries and research facilities including the SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s Albany NanoTech Complex, while new funding for clean energy development and offshore wind will allow GE to expand its clean energy workforce and create good-paying union manufacturing jobs at the Port of Albany.
Strong legislation to boost American manufacturing, create jobs, and allow us to compete abroad is essential in our efforts to strengthen supply chains, restore American leadership, and lower costs for families. As I continue to lead in negotiations between the House and Senate, I will work hard to ensure that the final bill prioritizes these critical issues.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- For years, I’ve worked tirelessly to increase access to broadband internet, especially for rural and underserved communities. The rise of remote work and learning during the pandemic made it clear that internet access is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity.
- This week, I was pleased to see these efforts pay off as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) informed more than 4 million HUD-assisted families that receiving benefits from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) does not count as income for determining family rent or impact their eligibility for further HUD assistance.
- The $14 billion Affordable Connectivity Program discounts up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households, and also provides up to a $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet.
- Click HERE for information on program eligibility.
- As part of its announcement, the Biden-Harris Administration has secured commitments from a set of large and small internet providers to offer high-speed broadband access at $30 a month or less, enabling tens of millions of low-income households eligible for the ACP to get high-speed internet access at no charge.
- The Administration has also created a new website – GetInternet.gov – with details on how Americans can sign up for ACP and find participating providers in their area.
- ACP enrollment opened on December 31, 2021. Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or by:
- Going to ACPBenefit.org to submit an online application or print a mail-in application
- Contacting their preferred participating broadband provider and selecting a plan
- Additional information about the ACP is available at www.fcc.gov/ACP or by calling 877-384-2575 between 9 AM and 9 PM ET.
