Senate-Approved Appropriations Bill Supports Semiconductor Research

by Semiconductor Industry Association

The Senate today approved legislation that appropriates funding for a range of federal agencies, including two – the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – that support critical semiconductor research. SIA applauds Senate passage of this bill and urges the House and Senate to work together on final legislation that includes robust funding for semiconductor research.

The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act (S.2584) includes a recommendation from the Senate Appropriation Committee that highlights the importance of “preserving American leadership in semiconductor technology … for American innovation, scientific discovery, and national security, as well as the advancement of critical technologies.”

Ambitious investment in research is a core recommendation of SIA’s recent policy agenda, titled “Winning the Future: A Blueprint for Sustained U.S. Leadership in Semiconductor Technology.” That report showed U.S. government investment in research has been declining compared to key global competitors, most notably China. It called for tripling federal investment in semiconductor research over five years to about $5 billion annually and doubling funding for semiconductor-related fields to nearly $9 billion annually.

Federal agencies such as NSF, NIST, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense support research critical to advancing semiconductor technology and ensuring sustained U.S. leadership in the technologies of the future, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced wireless networks such as 5G.

SIA looks forward to working with Congress and the Administration to promote federal investments in research that will strengthen our industry and, by extension, our country’s economy, national security, and global technology leadership.