Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7372) to amend the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 to require the President to establish a semiconductor supply chain working group in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and submit reports to Congress on potential future disruptions to the supply chain.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7372.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7372, the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act.

The pandemic has exposed how intricate, how fragile, and how globalized supply chains are in 2022. Many of the products our families know and use every day, whether it is our cars, our computers, our smartphones, or our refrigerators, are the products of complex components assembled all around the globe. Semiconductors are a prime example, as they power just about every electronic device in existence.

America is the global leader in semiconductors because our semiconductor design companies are the global leaders. No country is capable of making advanced semiconductors without American innovation and know-how.

But we are also reliant on other nations that are a part of the semiconductor supply chain. Ukraine and Russia are crucial providers of important compounds and elements that are necessary for their production, including palladium, neon gas, helium, and C4F6. Without these gases, many types of semiconductors cannot be produced. Most chip-making companies had a little extra supply of these products before Putin started his immoral, unjustifiable invasion, but these stores are quickly dwindling.

This bill directs the President to quickly address this problem and forces the administration to work with our allies and partners to ramp up production of these key elements and compounds. It also asks the administration to look ahead to future geopolitical threats and analyze how we can prepare for potential instability down the road.

I thank Representative Titus for her work on this important bill and for working in a bipartisan way with Representative Meijer.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this valuable legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

H.R. 7372 is important legislation that will take practical steps to solve supply chain problems that would affect all Americans in a bipartisan way.

This is exactly the type of work we were elected to do. I applaud the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Meijer) for their work on the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act.

H.R. 7372 would set up a high-level interagency task force to make sure that we have a whole-of-government effort to anticipate and respond to the impacts on the supply chain for semiconductors.

The semiconductor supply chain has long been under strain, which has only been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. On top of that, the war criminal Putin's invasion of Ukraine has only added to the problem. It has interrupted critical inputs into the semiconductor supply chain, such as palladium, neon gas, and helium.

While it certainly is important to know the impacts on this critical supply chain caused by Russia's invasion, the United States must take a holistic approach and work with our allies and partners to strengthen the entire semiconductor supply chain and protect it from being dominated by the Chinese Communist Party.

I am pleased that this bill also requires forward-looking assessments to understand the impact to the supply chain by a possible invasion of Taiwan, a courageous beacon of democracy in the East that manufactures 90 percent of advanced logic semiconductors.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Meijer).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close.

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. share of global semiconductor production has dropped from 37 percent in 1990 to 12 percent today, and it is projected to decline even further without a comprehensive U.S. strategy to support the industry.

This bill is a small step in the right direction, but we must do more to ensure these vital supply chains for semiconductors. If we fail, the impacts to our economy and national security will be monumental.

We are in a conflict of democracy with rule by law opposed by authoritarians of rule by gun.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7372, the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act.

This bill, which I helped introduce with Representative Titus, is an incredibly timely bill and focuses on two of the most pressing issues today: the war in Ukraine and our semiconductor supply chain shortages.

Over the past 2 years, we have seen unprecedented challenges to our supply chain. The current war in Ukraine has exacerbated each and every one of these challenges, threatening our supply of critical minerals, including the supply for semiconductors.

From cell phones and cars to medical devices, we all know the integral role that semiconductors play in our everyday lives. My home State of Michigan knows all too well the challenges that the semiconductor shortage have created for our economy. A threat to our supply chains is a matter of both economic and national security, and we need a robust and coordinated response to any threats to our semiconductor supply chain. This bill offers just that.

By establishing a working group focused specifically on the threats to our semiconductor supply chain as a result of Putin's illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, we can ensure that all available resources and expertise are being used to examine how our critical mineral supply is affected by the ongoing war. This legislation also examines how we can bolster our supply of critical minerals, as well as how we in Congress can offer legislative solutions to help support and strengthen our supply chains.

We know now that our global supply chain is at a critical juncture, and if it can be disrupted for semiconductors, the threats will be endless to our economic and national security. This legislation allows us to take meaningful steps to identify how the ongoing war threatens the chain and what we can do to shore up our supply domestically.

I want to thank the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) for leading this effort, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 7372, the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians.

H.R. 7372 will require the President to establish a semiconductor supply chain working group and submit to Congress reports on potential disruptions to the supply chain.

We must always ensure that geopolitical dynamics do not impede or disrupt the United States' semiconductor supply.

Semiconductors were first developed in the United States for transmitter use. Since then, the industry has boomed with the creation of various types of Semiconductors that are used in everything from computers to cars, and from watches to washing machines.

Large semiconductor companies such as Intel and Texas Instruments rely on certain minerals to maintain manufacturing demands.

These threatened materials include palladium, neon gas, helium, and C4F6, which are necessary for the operation of electronic devices.

Semiconductors are essential to the American economy and day to day American life. A semiconductor shortage is a threat to National Security.

We need to plan ahead and anticipate the potential impact that Russia and other autocratic, authoritarian regimes may have on these supplies.

This bill will require the Secretary of State to submit a report analyzing Russia's impact on supply chains and the global economy while also recommending potential steps to bolster semiconductor production and secure necessary materials.

Taiwan is the world's largest supplier of semiconductors, so it is important to account for any geopolitical factors that might impact them. The bill requires these considerations in future reports as well as issues with health and natural disasters.

Through this report, Congress can stay updated for threats to the global supply chain for semiconductors and prepare for future geopolitical developments.

I urge all members to join me in voting for H.R. 7372, the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present for the Roll Call vote for H.R. 7372, Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act (Rep. Titus--Foreign Affairs). Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 127.