The bill, known as the \
Washington — The U.S. Senate adopted a major piece of legislation Tuesday that directs $52 billion in emergency spending toward domestic semiconductor chip manufacturing and boosts “Buy American” rules pushed by Michigan’s senators. Senators gave the measure bipartisan support, voting 68-32 to pass the Democrat-led bill in the narrowly divided chamber and send it to the House for consideration. The bill, known as the “U.S. Innovation and Competition Act,” aims to incentivize U.S. manufacturing of the chips, which are primarily produced overseas and which power electronics and key components of modern cars, trucks and SUVs, such as power steering, engine management and infotainment displays. A chip shortage blamed on the pandemic has caused automakers to idle plants nationwide and is expected to cost the industry around $110 billion in lost revenue globally. The broader $250 billion bill is meant to super-charge the United States’ economic competitiveness with China by devoting billions to research and development in science and high-tech sectors to help American companies better counter their Chinese rivals. The legislation is led by Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, and Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana. “This bill takes a number of steps to ensure we can continue to lead in manufacturing through the 21st century — especially as new technologies come online,” said Sen.
