Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael C Burgess MD (R-TX)
Semiconductors are necessary for some of the most vital technology we have today – from the phone in our pockets to insulin pumps and advanced medical imaging. This bill will cut through bureaucratic tape and streamline the National Environmental Policy Act’s regulations for microchip manufacturing which otherwise would have taken years to ever cross the finish line.
Let me be clear, the NEPA process is valuable. The Environmental impact assessments and reviews that are conducted in this country are a pragmatic symbol of the American people’s commitment to environmental conservation and land management. However, there is work to be done on the efficiency of the process as a whole.
Due to NEPA’s red tape, many semiconductor projects are delayed and manufacturers become discouraged in developing domestic manufacturing projects. Not only will this bill open job opportunities for thousands of people, but it also will empower our nation’s economic and national security goals. The Chips Act is an investment into domestic manufacturing projects.
This legislation is important to Texas as we remain at the forefront of national resurgence in high-tech manufacturing. Streamlining the NEPA process will help companies in the semiconductor supply chain bring great economic prosperity to our state. I urge members to support this bill, thank you and I yield back.
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