BRUNSWICK, ME — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Co-Chair of the Senate Semiconductor Caucus, applauded President Joe Biden signing his bipartisan legislation to improve federal permitting for semiconductor manufacturing. The new law, which unanimously passed the U.S. Senate in January, will help create jobs and strengthen American national security by fast-tracking the permitting process for makers of semiconductors and other key national security products. Combined with the now-law CHIPS for America Act, these bills will help spur a massive advancement in the domestic production of advanced technologies. The legislation was introduced by Senator King with his colleagues Senators Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

“From basic household appliances to advanced defense systems, almost every piece of modern life relies on semiconductors. As supply chains struggle and tensions with China rise, it’s abundantly clear America can no longer afford to be dependent on competitors for these critical technologies,” said Senator King. “Our bipartisan permitting reforms will encourage a rapid expansion of the domestic semiconductor production critical to the nation’s long-term economic success and security. This is a commonsense step to support innovation – and, partnered with the historic investments of the CHIPS Act, will be a major boost to American competitiveness in the 21st century. I’m grateful to Senators Hagerty and Portman for their partnership on this bill and to President Biden for signing it into law.”

The Senators’ bipartisan law will reduce the time it takes to obtain the permitting necessary to build semiconductor and other key manufacturing facilities in the United States, encouraging these businesses to locate their operations in the United States. It’s expected to create American jobs, reduce the nation’s dependence on China, and shore up supply chains that are essential to national security.

As Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and the Senate Semiconductor Caucus, and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, Senator King has been committed to advancing American competitiveness in 21st century technologies while improving national security and strengthening supply chains. He recently celebrated the passage of the CHIPS for America Act, a historic investment in the United States’ leading-edge technology manufacturing and scientific innovation. Along with advocating for more semiconductor manufacturing, King has been a leader in expanding 21st century broadband connections across America, and is one of the Senate’s strongest advocates for American energy storage technology.