Bill Samuel, Government Affairs Director for the AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed Senate passage of the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act and progress made by Democrats on a budget reconciliation bill.
Samuel provided a detailed history of the CHIPS Act, which is legislation designed to offer financial incentives to semiconductor manufacturers to build facilities in America to manufacture semiconductors or computer chips. This version of the bill passed the Senate on Wednesday night by a 64-33 margin. Samuel explained why he thinks it will easily pass in the U.S. House today and then be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
Samuel then discussed the surprise news of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-W. Va.), who will now support a nearly $800 billion budget reconciliation bill, which includes tax increases on corporations and the wealthy and contains roughly $400 billion in climate-related provisions. Despite Manchin’s backing, the bill will not pass without the support of U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.).
He also talked about a failed attempt by Republicans to repeal the Davis-Bacon Act in the U.S. House.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.