Kia’s plant in West Point, GA closed for two days last month due to ongoing semiconductor shortage
This bill aims to prevent future shortages by boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing
Kia thanked Sens. Ossoff and Warnock for helping pass this legislation: “We appreciate the efforts of Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock as they work to provide all U.S. manufacturers access to these important components soon and in the future”
Washington, D.C. — Today, following a strong push by U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock to expedite passage of the bill, the Senate passed the bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act to make historic investments in American innovation and scientific research and development — including $52 billion to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
Last month, Sens. Ossoff and Warnock urged expedited passage of the bill to help boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing after Kia’s plant in West Point, GA, closed for two days in May as a result of worldwide semiconductor shortages.
The bill will address the semiconductor shortage by investing $52 billion through the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act and by creating a Supply Chain Resiliency Program to prevent future shortages of essential materials and goods, such as semiconductors.
“Georgians sent us here to fight for jobs and opportunity, and that’s why Senator Reverend Warnock and I united to help push this vital bill over the line and boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing — because Georgia jobs were on the line. I thank our colleagues for heeding our call and moving swiftly to pass this bill,” Senator Ossoff said.
“Addressing our domestic semiconductor shortage is critical to keeping companies in Georgia strong and Georgia workers on the job. That’s why I fought in the Commerce committee to make sure this legislation promotes and funds efforts to strengthen our nation’s semiconductor production and supply chain, and I was proud to partner with my brother Senator Ossoff to include additional key provisions that will help ensure what happened to the workers at the Kia factory in West Point last month never happens again,” Senator Reverend Warnock said.
“The shortage of semiconductor chips is limiting auto production across the United States. Our team at Kia Georgia has been diligently working with our suppliers and our staff to minimize any such disruption, but despite all best efforts, was forced to temporarily suspend production last month. We appreciate the efforts of Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock as they work to provide all U.S. manufacturers access to these important components soon and in the future,” said Christopher Wenk, Vice President, Government Affairs, Kia Corporation.
Semiconductors are vital to the approximately 340,000 Kia cars made in Georgia each year.
The United States is dangerously dependent on foreign suppliers of semiconductors, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further strained the global supply chain, leading to widespread delays and disruption of manufacturing.
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