House lawmakers consider bipartisan bills to advance tech R&D
Lawmakers in Congress are considering two bills that advocates say would boost the technological dominance of the U.S. and support the semiconductor industry.
Members of the House of Representatives were on Monday set to scrutinize the National Science Foundation for the Future Act and the Department of Energy Science for the Future Act as part of the chamber’s suspension calendar.
The National Science Foundation for the Future Act would compel the NSF to work with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to assess STEM education for Pre-K-12. Among measures included in the Department of Energy Science for the Future Act is the requirement that the agency coordinate with academia and public and private organizations to advance its scientific computing program.
According to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), the bills, if passed, would strengthen America’s economy and national security.
Commenting on the bills, SIA CEO John Neuffer said: “The U.S. semiconductor industry relies on these advances as the foundation for creating the technologies of the future.”
“The research initiatives authorized by this legislation will generate advances in a range of scientific fields and build the pipeline of talent needed to enhance U.S. technology competitiveness,” he added.
The lobbying chief also advocated for the inclusion of $52 billion in public funding for semiconductor research, design and manufacturing in the new legislation.
Both bills are being considered after Senate lawmakers earlier this month introduced bipartisan legislation known as the Facilitating American-Built Semiconductors (FABS) Act, which would establish an investment tax credit for domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
