Grand Rapids Reporter

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) recently met with national leaders at the White House to voice her support of the CHIPS Act.

The governor was joined by Pres. Joe Biden; Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo; Director of the National Economic Council, Brian Deese; and Indiana Governor Eric Holcom to urge passage of the act, according to a press release from the governor's office. The act would increase chip production and strengthen the nation's role in manufacturing, with Michigan at the epicenter of production.  

"The CHIPS Act would boost domestic chip manufacturing and research, spur innovation, and help manufacturers avoid costly delays," Whitmer said in the release. "It would create thousands of high-skill, good-paying jobs and show businesses that the United States is the place to build the future. It would lower costs for American families by breaking up delays in our supply chain. This is game-changing, bipartisan legislation that will make a real difference in people's lives if we get it done. It's the kind of bill that can set us up for decades of economic success."

Whitmer headed a group of 21 bipartisan governors that are asking for the CHIPS Act to be passed and fully funded, after the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act was passed by the Senate last June. 

The governor’s office reported that the chip shortage often halted production, and in some instances forced plants to close. This affected 575,000 car-related jobs in the country, with an estimated 2.2 million vehicles not manufactured, accounting for over 3,000 working days in 2021.

"A strong and reliable supply of semiconductors is good for America's workers, economy, and automotive industry," an Alliance for Automotive Innovation spokesperson said in the release.