Davids, U.S. Department of Commerce Discuss Bipartisan Law to Create Manufacturing Jobs, Lower Costs

OVERLAND PARK, KS - Today, Representative Sharice Davids hosted a roundtable discussion with U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) senior advisor J.D. Grom, local elected officials, manufacturers, and researchers to discuss how semiconductor manufacturing investments from the bipartisanCHIPS and Science Act are bringing jobs to Kansas, lowering costs for consumers, and boosting domestic supply chains. The law, forwhich Davids served as a key negotiatoralongside Senator Jerry Moran, also includes support for small- and medium-sized manufacturers, a Davids-led priority that ensures funding is distributed beyond large corporations.

“The chips shortage we saw over the past few years further demonstrated our need to make more goods here at home, ensuring Kansans aren’t bearing the financial burden of supply chain disruptions,” said Davids. “The bipartisan manufacturing law I helped negotiate alongside Senator Jerry Moran has already prompted multiple private companies to announce new projects in Kansas, creating good-paying jobs here at home. I appreciate the U.S. Department of Commerce’s efforts to learn directly from Kansans today to ensure these federal investments are adequately felt in our local community.”

“Through the CHIPS and Science Act, we have a historic opportunity to revitalize America’s semiconductor manufacturing industry and invest in new semiconductor research and development, while creating thousands of jobs along the way,” said J.D. Grom, Senior Advisor to the Secretary on CHIPS Implementation, U.S. Department of Commerce. “I’m glad I was able to join Representative Davids to discuss how this legislation will help strengthen our domestic supply chains, spur new innovation and ideas, and boost American manufacturing across the United States.”

Semiconductors, or chips, are necessary components of many everyday items including cars, smartphones, and medical devices, but only 12 percent are currently manufactured domestically - down from 37 percent in the 1990s. This lack of domestic manufacturing of chips proved harmful during the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a chips shortage and raising prices on necessary goods.

During today’s conversation, which took place at Johnson County Community College, Davids and Grom heard from local business, government, and manufacturing leaders on how they plan to utilize these federal investments from the CHIPS and Science Act to support the local economy in the greater Kansas City area. Grom also shared what the DOC is doing to implement the new programs created by the law to ensure local communities feel their impacts efficiently and where they’re needed most.

As part of her negotiations on this bill, Davids visited with local businesses about how the chips shortage affects their daily operations. She visited Cherub Medical Supplies, a Shawnee-based supplier of pediatric medical devices, that grappled with long delays. She also toured the local General Motors Fairfax Assembly & Stamping Plant, which idled for several months due to the shortage, forcing their 2,000 workers to stay home. Davids then hosted U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in Kansas to highlight how federal legislation, including the CHIPS and Science Act, is helping to bring Panasonic to De Soto.

The CHIPS and Science Act is:

• Lowering costs for American consumers – making more critical semiconductor components in America, helping end the shortage of chips that have driven up the price of everything from cars to consumer goods.
• Creating 100,000 new, good-paying jobs nationwide – supporting local workforce development.
• Reducing America’s dependence on foreign manufacturers – bringing critical semiconductor manufacturing back home.
• Turbocharging American research and development – ensuring that the technologies of the future are made here at home.
  • The greater Kansas City region was recently announced as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (Tech Hub), one of 31 inaugural Tech Hubs across the country that show potential for rapid growth in key technology sectors.

Multiple companies recently announced new chips production facilities in Kansas and have applied to receive CHIPS and Science Act investments. As part of her effort to bring available federal resources home to Kansas, Davids encouraged the U.S. Department of Commerce to fully consider EMP Shield’s application. While initial federal allotments have not been released, the CHIPS and Science Act has already boosted investments in local communities, including:

• $231 billion in private sector investments to build semiconductors;
• Nearly 530 statements of interest received for projects across 42 states;
• More than 50 community colleges announced new or expanded semiconductor workforce programs;
• Student applications to full-time jobs posted by semiconductor companies increased 79 percent in 2022-2023, compared to just 19 percent for other industries.

Along with Davids and Grom, attendees of today’s roundtable discussion include:

• Cathy Bennett, Senior Vice President for Public Policy, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
• Tony Caruso, Dr., Curators' Distinguished Professor and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Missouri – Kansas City
• Paul Cassat, Senior Corporate Counsel, Garmin
• Mike Kane, Political Director, Tri County Labor Council of Eastern Kansas/Wyandotte County Commissioner, District 5
• Mike Kelly, Chairman, Johnson County Commission
• Daniel Kennedy, Vice President, BioNexus KC
• Christine Murray, Director of Workforce Initiatives, KC Tech Council
• Clinton Robinson, Associate Vice President of State & Local Government Affairs, Black & Veatch
• Andy Sanchez, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Kansas AFL-CIO
• Keely Schneider, Executive Director, KANSASWORKS/Workforce Partnerships
• Tiffany Stovall, CEO, Kansas Manufacturing Solutions
• Belinda Sturm, Dr., PhD, Director, Kansas National Science Foundation EPSCoR Office
• Elisa Waldman, Vice President, Workforce Development & Continuing Education