February 5, 2022

Dear Friends,

Yesterday I was thrilled to join my colleagues in the House to pass the America COMPETES Act, a comprehensive package of initiatives aimed at fixing our supply chains, boosting American semiconductor manufacturing, turbocharging American scientific and technological leadership, and strengthening our global competitiveness. 

Semiconductors are essential components of countless consumer goods we use every day—from cars and computers to phones and coffee makers. Despite the vital importance of chips in our lives, America’s share of global semiconductor production has plummeted in recent decades, falling from 37% in 1990 down to just 12% today. 

This drop, compounded by the COVID pandemic, has resulted in a breakdown of our domestic chip supply chain. If you recently tried to purchase a car or upgrade your phone, you likely experienced these problems firsthand.

The legislation we passed this week addresses past failures to invest in research, workforce development, and manufacturing and seizes the opportunity before us to create quality jobs and strengthen our supply chain.

I am especially proud that the America COMPETES package includes two of my top priorities: the bipartisan Micro Act, a bill I introduced last month to empower the Department of Energy to boost research and development of microelectronics, and $52 billion in funding for the CHIPS for America Act, a measure I’ve consistently pushed for with congressional leadership and the Biden Administration.

In addition to these key measures, the America COMPETES Act also:

• Fixes supply chains and boosts American manufacturing by authorizing $45 billion to build more critical components here in America, creating jobs, strengthening domestic industry, and increasing our capacity to prevent shortages and disruptions with American-made products.
• Maintains American leadership in scientific research and technology through a bipartisan package of science, research, and technology bills that will maximize the American talent pool by strengthening and diversifying our nation’s STEM workforce.
• Ensures that American interests, partnerships, and values succeed on the global stage by taking real, strong action to hold China and other powers accountable for trade abuses and human rights violations.

Our own Capital Region has so much to gain from strong investments in semiconductor manufacturing and is uniquely poised to lead the nation in advancements in this emerging field. I’ve long pushed to support our region’s semiconductor industry, including fighting for the establishment of a cutting-edge National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC). Because—as one of the few engineers in Congress—I know that when we invest in research and innovation, opportunities and prosperity are sure to follow.

This legislation will be instrumental in helping our nation realize its limitless potential to lead the world in technology and innovation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to enact this funding as soon as possible. I’ll never stop fighting for good-paying jobs, American innovation, and economic opportunity for working families in the Capital Region and across our nation.

As always, thank you for reading.

Your friend,

DID YOU KNOW?

Throughout this pandemic, my office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations from federal agencies. With that in mind, here is some information from the IRS that may be of interest to you:

• The IRS is strongly encouraging individuals who are not normally required to file a tax return to file one this season to claim potentially thousands of dollars in tax credits.  By filing a tax return, you could claim:
  • The Recovery Rebate Credit to receive any remaining 2021 stimulus payments you may not have received (for example, if you added a new child or other dependent in 2021)
  • The remaining Child Tax Credit for which you are eligible, including any monthly payments you may not have received (for example, if you added a new qualifying child in 2021)
  • The Earned Income Tax Credit, the federal government’s largest refundable tax credit for low- to moderate-income families (the amount of which has been nearly tripled for filers without children)
• The IRS is also encouraging taxpayers to file electronically and use direct deposit for the safest and fastest way to receive your refund.
• If you need help filing your 2021 tax return, assistance and answers to frequently asked questions are available at IRS.gov.
  • In addition to IRS.gov, the IRS has a variety of other free options available to help taxpayers, ranging from free assistance at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) locations nationwide.
    • You can use the VITA/TCE Locator Tool to find the location closest to you.
  • The IRS is also offering the IRS Free File program, a safe, easy, and free portal to submit your returns.