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“PROTECTING SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY CHAIN MATERIALS FROM AUTHORITARIANS ACT” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the in the House of Representatives section section on pages H4527-H4529 on April 27.
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PROTECTING SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY CHAIN MATERIALS FROM AUTHORITARIANS ACT
Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7372) to amend the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 to require the President to establish a semiconductor supply chain working group in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and submit reports to Congress on potential future disruptions to the supply chain.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7372
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE UKRAINE FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT OF
2014.
The Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8921 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 11 as section 13; and
(2) by inserting after section 10 the following new sections:
``SEC. 11. WORKING GROUP ON SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the President shall establish an interagency working group to address semiconductor supply chain issues caused by the Russia's illegal and unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
``(b) Membership.--The interagency working group established pursuant to subsection (a) shall be comprised of the head, or designee of the head, of each of the following:
``(1) The Department of State.
``(2) The Department of Defense.
``(3) The Department of Commerce.
``(4) The Department of the Treasury.
``(5) The Office of the United States Trade Representative.
``(6) The Department of Interior.
``(7) The Department of Energy.
``(8) The Department of Homeland Security.
``(9) The Department of Labor.
``(10) Any other Federal department or agency the President determines appropriate.
``(c) Chair.--The Secretary of State shall serve as the chair of the working group established pursuant to subsection
(a).
``SEC. 12. REPORTS ON SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS.
``(a) Report on Impact of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine.-- Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of State shall submit to the committees listed in subsection (b) a report of the interagency working group that--
``(1) reviews and analyzes--
``(A) the impact of Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine on the supply of palladium, neon gas, helium, and hexafluorobutadiene (C4F6); and
``(B) the impact, if any, on supply chains and the global economy;
``(2) recounts diplomatic efforts by the United States to work with other countries that mine, synthesize, or purify palladium, neon gas, helium, or hexafluorobutadiene (C4F6);
``(3) quantifies the actions resulting from these efforts to diversify sources of supply of these items;
``(4) sets forth steps the United States has taken to bolster its production or secure supply of palladium or other compounds and elements listed in paragraph (1)(A);
``(5) lists any other important elements, compounds, or products in the semiconductor supply chain that have been affected by Russia's illegal attack on Ukraine; and
``(6) recommends any potential legislative steps that could be taken by Congress to further bolster the supply of elements, compounds, or products for the semiconductor supply chain that have been curtailed as a result of Russia's actions.
``(b) Committees Listed.--The committees listed in this subsection are--
``(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
``(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
``(c) Annual Report on Potential Future Shocks to Semiconductor Supply Chains.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter for 5 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report of the interagency working group that--
``(A) outlines and plans for the most likely future geopolitical developments that could severely disrupt global semiconductor supply chains in ways that could harm the national security or economic interests of the United States;
``(B) forecasts the various potential impacts on the global supply chain for semiconductors, and products that use semiconductors, from the developments outlined pursuant to subparagraph (A), as well as the following contingencies--
``(i) an invasion of Taiwan or geopolitical instability or conflict in East Asia;
``(ii) a broader war or geopolitical instability in Europe;
``(iii) strategic competitors dominating parts of the supply chain and leveraging that dominance coercively;
``(iv) a future international health crisis; and
``(v) natural disasters or shortages of natural resources and raw materials;
``(C) describes the kind of continency plans that would be needed for the safe evacuation of individuals with deep scientific and technical knowledge of semiconductors and their supply chain from areas under risk from conflict or natural disaster; and
``(D) evaluates the current technical and supply chain work force expertise within the Federal government to carry out these assessments.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Phillips) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.
General Leave
Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7372.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Minnesota?
There was no objection.
Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7372, the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act.
The pandemic has exposed how intricate, how fragile, and how globalized supply chains are in 2022. Many of the products our families know and use every day, whether it is our cars, our computers, our smartphones, or our refrigerators, are the products of complex components assembled all around the globe. Semiconductors are a prime example, as they power just about every electronic device in existence.
America is the global leader in semiconductors because our semiconductor design companies are the global leaders. No country is capable of making advanced semiconductors without American innovation and know-how.
But we are also reliant on other nations that are a part of the semiconductor supply chain. Ukraine and Russia are crucial providers of important compounds and elements that are necessary for their production, including palladium, neon gas, helium, and C4F6. Without these gases, many types of semiconductors cannot be produced. Most chip-making companies had a little extra supply of these products before Putin started his immoral, unjustifiable invasion, but these stores are quickly dwindling.
This bill directs the President to quickly address this problem and forces the administration to work with our allies and partners to ramp up production of these key elements and compounds. It also asks the administration to look ahead to future geopolitical threats and analyze how we can prepare for potential instability down the road.
I thank Representative Titus for her work on this important bill and for working in a bipartisan way with Representative Meijer.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this valuable legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act.
H.R. 7372 would set up a high-level interagency task force to make sure that we have a whole-of-government effort to anticipate and respond to the impacts on the supply chain for semiconductors.
The semiconductor supply chain has long been under strain, which has only been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. On top of that, the war criminal Putin's invasion of Ukraine has only added to the problem. It has interrupted critical inputs into the semiconductor supply chain, such as palladium, neon gas, and helium.
While it certainly is important to know the impacts on this critical supply chain caused by Russia's invasion, the United States must take a holistic approach and work with our allies and partners to strengthen the entire semiconductor supply chain and protect it from being dominated by the Chinese Communist Party.
I am pleased that this bill also requires forward-looking assessments to understand the impact to the supply chain by a possible invasion of Taiwan, a courageous beacon of democracy in the East that manufactures 90 percent of advanced logic semiconductors.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Meijer).
Mr. MEIJER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7372, the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act.
This bill, which I helped introduce with Representative Titus, is an incredibly timely bill and focuses on two of the most pressing issues today: the war in Ukraine and our semiconductor supply chain shortages.
Over the past 2 years, we have seen unprecedented challenges to our supply chain. The current war in Ukraine has exacerbated each and every one of these challenges, threatening our supply of critical minerals, including the supply for semiconductors.
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From cell phones and cars to medical devices, we all know the integral role that semiconductors play in our everyday lives. My home State of Michigan knows all too well the challenges that the semiconductor shortage have created for our economy. A threat to our supply chains is a matter of both economic and national security, and we need a robust and coordinated response to any threats to our semiconductor supply chain. This bill offers just that.
By establishing a working group focused specifically on the threats to our semiconductor supply chain as a result of Putin's illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, we can ensure that all available resources and expertise are being used to examine how our critical mineral supply is affected by the ongoing war. This legislation also examines how we can bolster our supply of critical minerals, as well as how we in Congress can offer legislative solutions to help support and strengthen our supply chains.
We know now that our global supply chain is at a critical juncture, and if it can be disrupted for semiconductors, the threats will be endless to our economic and national security. This legislation allows us to take meaningful steps to identify how the ongoing war threatens the chain and what we can do to shore up our supply domestically.
I want to thank the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) for leading this effort, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close.
Mr. Speaker, the U.S. share of global semiconductor production has dropped from 37 percent in 1990 to 12 percent today, and it is projected to decline even further without a comprehensive U.S. strategy to support the industry.
This bill is a small step in the right direction, but we must do more to ensure these vital supply chains for semiconductors. If we fail, the impacts to our economy and national security will be monumental.
We are in a conflict of democracy with rule by law opposed by authoritarians of rule by gun.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.
H.R. 7372 is important legislation that will take practical steps to solve supply chain problems that would affect all Americans in a bipartisan way.
This is exactly the type of work we were elected to do. I applaud the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) and the gentleman from Michigan
(Mr. Meijer) for their work on the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act.
Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Phillips) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7372.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
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