Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is teeing up a procedural vote on legislation aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor chip production amid the nation’s shortage, the New York Democrat announced on the floor Monday.
The announcement comes as negotiators continue to iron out the final details on the slimmed-down bill in the wake of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) asserting that Republicans would not support a larger-scale China competitiveness bill if Democrats move forward with a party-line reconciliation bill to address climate, unwind parts of the GOP’s landmark tax reform bill, and allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
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“Tomorrow, we’re going to hold the first procedural vote,” Schumer said on the floor. “Democrats and Republicans are hashing out the details on a final bill so we can move forward this week.”
While the bill is expected to face its first procedural hurdle on Tuesday, it is unclear whether it currently has enough GOP support to send it to the lower chamber.
The most recent draft of the bill would provide $52 billion in grants to incentivize domestic semiconductor production in addition to a 25% investment tax credit for manufacturers, $500 million slated to be allocated toward creating an international secure communications program, in addition to millions for worker training, Bloomberg reported.
The shortage of chips has created a disruption in production for the world’s biggest consumer electronic brands throughout the pandemic, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle sounding the alarm on the need to manufacture more in the United States.
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While Republicans have largely stood by the decision to threaten to block a larger bill if a reconciliation bill looks likely, centrist Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) assertion that major tax and climate provisions should not be included in the partisan bill would largely scale back the scope of legislation Democrats are looking to pass to provide them with a win ahead of the midterm elections.
Top Republicans have also stressed domestic production, noting that a shortage creates a national security threat to the country, signaling that the bill is likely to see bipartisan backing.
One senior GOP lawmaker also noted that the slimmed-down bill cuts out certain provisions Republicans sounded the alarm on that were in talks of making it into legislation hashed out in a House-Senate conference committee, providing it an easier path to passage in both chambers.
