Rep. Blake Moore joins bipartisan battle to secure supply chain

U.S. Rep. Blake Moore has joined to fight to secure U.S. microelectronics supply chain by introducing the 'Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act' into Congress. Pictured here is a American worker assembling a printed circuit board (image courtesy of Berkeley Sourcing Group).

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) has joined the bipartisan congressional fight to re-shore our manufacturing, strengthen our supply chains and prioritize national security.

“I have been encouraged by Congress’ consistent effort to strengthen our microchips industrial base, as they are increasingly critical to our everyday technology,” Moore said on May 6. “However, they are only part of an extensive microelectronics infrastructure …

“We are confronted by an immediate need to rebuild and bolster our entire microelectronics ecosysterm. The Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act will help to usher in a new era of American manufacturing.”

That bipartisan legislation was introduced in the U.S. House last week by Moore and co-sponsor Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA).

The Supporting American Printed Circuit Board Act will complement semiconductors incentives already underway by encouraging domestic printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing as well as research and development to reduce supply chain disruption; address national security concerns related to PCB production; and further enhance America’s economic leadership in this vital area.

PCBs are the material on which semiconductors sit, according to Moore’s staff. They are the green-colored surface in images of chips and are a critical part of the supply chain.

A recent federal report called for domestic investment and production of information/communications technology such as PCBs, according to the departments of Commerce and Homeland Security.

The supply chain shortages for electronics are affecting every aspect of American life,” Eshoo said. “PCBs are a critical part of that supply chain.

“The U.S. global production share of PCBs is only approximately 4 percent, compared to China’s 52 percent. If we want to ensure technological superiority across the global stage and strengthen national security, we need to bring PCB production back to America.”

“That’s exactly what my bipartisan bill does,” she added.

Specifically, the Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act established a financial assistance program within the Department of Commerce for American facilities manufacturing or researching PCBs. It also provides a tax credit for entities that purchase American-made PCBs.

It remains to be seen how Moore’s well-deserve reputation for such bipartisanship will play with Utah voters in the upcoming June 28 primary.

Moore made a poor showing at the April 23 Republican nominating convention, where state delegates appeared to reject Moore’s strategy of reaching across the political aisle in favor of a challenger’s fiery rhetoric promising no compromise with Democrats in Congress.

After three rounds of balloting, former civilian intelligence officer Andrew Badger narrowly missed capturing the nomination with 59.2 percent of the ballots cast as opposed to Moore’s 40.7 percent.

Moore will now face off against Badger and former Morgan County commissioner Tina Cannon in the June 28 Republican primary voting.

Cannon had already secured a spot on the primary ballot by collecting voter signatures.

The Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act enjoys strong support from the electronics industry, according to Moore.

“Printed circuit boards are the high-tech foundation that makes modern life possible,” said Travis Kelly, chairman of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA).

“Over the last two decades, PCB production has moved away from the United States at an alarming rate, as overseas costs were driven down by foreign investments. Without robust and secure domestic supply chains, U.S. production of critical micro-electronics is not sustainable.”

Jule Sola, CEO of the Sanmina Corp., agreed with that opinion.

“Bringing back print circuit board manufacturing to the U.S. is critically important to our economy, national security and the integrity of our high-tech supply chain,” Sola said. “The Supporting American Printed Circuit Board Act will help to restore this important manufacturing base to the U.S.; secure our supply chain; and create new high-quality jobs.”

Sanmina designs, manufactures and repairs some of the most complex and innovative products in the world in the industrial, medical, defense, aerospace, automotive and communications sectors.

“I look forward to collaborating with Congresswoman Eshoo on this bipartisan effort as we work to keep our supply chains and electronic systems secure,” Moore concluded.

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