Representative Greg Stanton's (D-AZ) Semiconductor Controls Effectiveness Act has been unanimously passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and will soon head to the House floor.
The bipartisan bill, which Rep. Stanton introduced with Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA), directs federal agencies to assess the impact and effectiveness of our export controls on advanced semiconductor technology imposed on the People's Republic of China (PRC) to ensure our trade policies are having their intended effect.
Semiconductor manufacturing and exports are a hot topic, with America's industry dominance on the brink of being overtaken by China.
The Semiconductor Controls Effectiveness Act helps assess where the United States stands in the semiconductor race and where policies need reinforcement or loopholes need to be closed. A review will be conducted in partnership with figures from the semiconductor industry.
Ahead of the vote, Rep. Stanton said, "If there is one thing this Committee should agree on, it is that the United States must win the economic and security battle with China. Protecting America's semiconductor advantage is at the center of that battle." "We all know the facts: Chinese semiconductor companies are rapidly growing," the Arizona congressman continued.
"So, now is the time to conduct a serious assessment of our export control regime to determine whether our current policies are truly effective."
"The window to secure America's semiconductor advantage is narrowing. Now is the time for Congress to work together in a bipartisan manner to assess our current export control regime. Our economic and national security is at stake," he concluded.
In December, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) teamed up with Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to introduce the Chip Equipment Quality, Usefulness, and Integrity Protection (EQUIP) Act, which aims to prevent American semiconductor companies from using Chinese-made manufacturing equipment if they receive federal funding.
