One of the Largest Investments in Technology Research & Development in History

"We know that innovation is in the DNA of Americans. We know it's helped us win the world wars, it's helped us cure disease, it's helped create millions of jobs. We don't know exactly what innovations will come out of this, but we do know this: America will be more competitive because of it. And…we will be able to grow our economy for the future, because of the investments that we've made today." – Sen. Cantwell

President Biden signs the CHIPS and Science Act on August 9, 2022

The United States federal investment in research and development is near its lowest point in 60 years when measured as a percentage of GDP. The U.S. has also lost its global leadership position in one of the nation’s most research-dependent sectors, manufacturing semiconductor chips. The U.S. share of the semiconductor market fell from 37 percent in the 1990s to 12 percent today. When the pandemic hit, lack of access to semiconductors impacted the technology we use every day, caused higher prices for used cars, forced U.S. manufacturers to lay people off and threatened our military readiness.

“The price increase for our consumers is 41%...in the cost for a used car today…
We're talking about real impacts that are happening in real people's lives.” - Sen. Cantwell.

Empty used car stock in Bellingham, Washington.
The semiconductor shortage forced consumers to wait months for new cars
Photo courtesy of Washington State Auto Dealers Association 

Congress passed the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to ensure that the United States continues to lead the world in science and technology innovation well into the future. With Sen. Cantwell’s and Commerce Democrats’ leadership, the Act invests nearly $250 billion over the next five years — one of the largest five-year federal research and development investments in U.S. history.

For American families, the law helps secure American access to semiconductors used to manufacture products like cars and refrigerators, helping to prevent shortages and price spikes as we saw during the pandemic. 

The law supports our men and women in uniform by helping ensure that more of the semiconductors used in U.S. military systems are made here at home. Right now, 90% of the most advanced semiconductors are made in Taiwan alone. More reliable access to advanced semiconductors ensures that our military has the firepower to deter enemies and keep us safe.

To build the workforce of tomorrow – Sen. Cantwell secured more than $13 billion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce development that will train Americans for secure, good-paying technology careers. This includes nearly $2 billion to minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to help build a strong, diverse and innovative domestic workforce. Sen. Rosen successfully advocated for, with Sen. Wicker, the Rural STEM Education Act to break down barriers to rural STEM education through National Science Foundation grants. 

Sen. Rosen promotes STEM education at Nevada’s Discovery Museum

Sen. Warnock helped secure robust investments in STEM research for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). This critical funding will enable these institutions to hire new staff and increase their ability to move products to the market, either on their own or through industry partnerships.

Sen. Warnock tours Clark Atlanta University and how HBCU R&D investments will help Georgia

Sen. Cantwell discusses STEM education opportunities and new federal funding
for programs for first-generation college students in the CHIPS & Science Act with Yakima Valley College students 

For America’s inventors, scientists and researchers, Sen. Cantwell secured funds for cutting-edge discoveries with up to $20 billion over five years for a new National Science Foundation Technology Directorate. The Directorate will support pioneering research in technology areas critical to U.S. economic and national security leaders and turn innovations into products faster. In addition, the law creates a new $10 billion Department of Commerce grant program to nurture new innovation regions and the good-paying jobs that come with them. 

Sen. Tester secured an amendment to give rural America a voice in technological research and development. He advocated that at least one-third of the regional technology hubs built should benefit small and rural areas, and at least one hub must be in a low-populated state.

Sen. Cantwell and Sen. Murray tour technology company nLight in Camas, Washington,
to see chip manufacturing workforce opportunities firsthand in August 2022

"As the world changes, there's been more pressure. And I think this CHIPS Act comes at a critical time, not only to enhance what we're doing in industry, but also to go deeper into science and technology, and to go into workforce development, and to go into education." - Scott Keeney, CEO of nLight 

For American manufacturers, Sen. Cantwell secured access to new and future technologies so they can stay competitive in global markets and create more jobs here at home. The law also triples funding for the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to help small and medium-sized manufacturers combat cyberattacks and train new workers.

To help bring CHIPS and Science funding opportunities into communities faster, Sen. Peters passed legislation to improve the manufacturing.gov website so it can better serve small businesses and act as a one-stop informational hub for workforce and manufacturing programs.

Sen. Peters hosts a field hearing in Detroit, Michigan, on how the
CHIPS and Science Act helps the automotive industry with domestic chip production

At the Altek Manufacturing facility in Liberty Lake outside of Spokane, Washington,
Sen. Cantwell talks about how the CHIPS and Science Act boosts small towns’ ability to create the next innovation

President Biden at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Intel manufacturing plant
in Ohio in September 2022. Photo from the White House.

Read More About the CHIPS and Science Law

In 2021, Sen. Cantwell successfully shepherded the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), a precursor to the CHIPS and Science Act, through the Senate Commerce Committee with an overwhelming 24-4 bipartisan vote and managed the bill on the Senate floor, where it passed 68-32.

On May 12, 2022, Sen. Cantwell kicked off a 107-member Conference Committee to negotiate differences between the Senate’s USICA bill and the House’s America COMPETES Act. Along with Sen. Cantwell, several Commerce Committee members served as Senate Democratic conferees, including Sens. Tester, Baldwin, Peters, Hickenlooper and Warnock.

Sen. Cantwell continued to champion the bill as the conference halted, negotiating with Democrats and Republicans across the chambers to ensure vital semiconductor and science funding legislation was brought to the floor. As a lead architect of the law, Sen. Cantwell successfully rallied a last-minute bipartisan push to secure the inclusion of historic investments in scientific research and development.

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 passed the Senate 64-33 on July 27, 2022, and the House one day later. President Biden signed the Act into law on Aug. 9, 2022.

Following the Senate passage of the CHIPS and Science Act on July 27, 2022, Sen. Cantwell leads a press conference
with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sens. Wicker, Young, Warner and Cornyn