July 2022
On July 19, the Senate advanced a procedural motion on a 64–34 vote that opened consideration of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act. While the thrust of the bill is focused on the semiconductor industry, the bill also includes language to reauthorize the National Science Foundation (NSF) and provisions to support the scientific enterprise. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee released a high-level summary of the science provisions.
Throughout this year, a conference committee worked to resolve differences between the America COMPETES Act, advanced by the House, and the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), advanced by the Senate. The CHIPS Act contains the provisions of the NSF for the Future Act that were in COMPETES, including:
The CHIPS Act expands on language in the America COMPETES Act to encourage research and dissemination to increase the participation of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.
Additional provisions in the CHIPS Act include:
As Highlights goes to press, the Senate is debating the CHIPS Act before final vote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a Dear Colleague letter on July 20 noting her support for the bill.
“We applaud the Senate for taking this important first step in moving forward comprehensive legislation to reauthorize the National Science Foundation,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine. “We encourage Congress to pass this bill to enhance the U.S. scientific enterprise.”