WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today are welcoming the Semiconductor Industry Association and its members to the Capitol to launch the Semiconductor Caucus.  The Semiconductor Caucus aims to increase awareness of the semiconductor industry and the vast scope of products that contain semiconductors. 

“Semiconductors – like those manufactured by several companies in Maine – play an enormous role in our day-to-day lives, helping to power smartphones, cars, computers, medical devices, and a seemingly endless list of other products,” said Senator King. “As a founding member of the  Semiconductor Caucus, I will work to shine light on this important industry here in Congress, and promote innovation and cooperation that can help this already-thriving sector continue to grow and create jobs in Maine and around the country.”  

“As building blocks of modern technology, semiconductors have played a key role in improving the lives of every American,” said Senator Risch. “Idaho, in particular, has seen the incredibly positive direct and indirect impacts that the industry has on this country.  I am honored to co-chair the Semiconductor Caucus and look forward to highlighting the many good things this industry contributes to our economy.”

Semiconductors are the building blocks of integrated circuits that are present in nearly every electronic device, and therefore this technology directly or indirectly enables most of the economic activity in a wide range of sectors. The semiconductor industry employs nearly 250,000 Americans and semiconductors are a top U.S. export.  The industry spends more than $30 billion on research and development each year and nearly 64 billion semiconductors are sold in the U.S. annually.

The launch event for the Semiconductor Caucus will be held this evening at 6 p.m. in the Senate Visitors Center of the U.S. Capitol Building. The Semiconductor Caucus is also co-chaired by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).

Semiconductor manufacturers Texas Instruments and Fairchild Semiconductor both have locations in South Portland, providing hundreds of jobs in Southern Maine.

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