Senate from the state of illinois of the senate is preparing to finally begin debating a targeted version of the jobs and competition bill that many of us have been working on for more than a year. I rise today to urge my colleagues not to waste any more time in getting this important bill across the finish line. We should not allow politics to get in the way of the peoples work. As a voice in the senate for my home state of georgia, i cannot stress enough how critical it is for us to get this bill done. For our National Security and to keep our economy competitive against global actors like the Chinese Communist party and to lower rising costs for hardworking families all across georgia and all across our country. Now i know that there might be disappointment from some of my colleagues that were not able to pass the more robust package right now that weve been working on. And negotiating. Since last april. And honestly i share that disappointment. As both a member of the Commerce Committee and a member of the committee thats been negotiating the final competition bill, ive been working hard to secure several priorities for georgia in that package. And im not about to stop fighting for those priorities. Im going to keep fighting to get investments and policies Like Fighting for regional tech hubs, for stem education, and education an Education Program that invests in all of our children and all of our young people. And Workforce Development passed into law. But let me be clear. Passing a bill that will strengthen Domestic Production of one of our countrys most vital resources, semiconductors or chips, is a crucial opportunity to invest in the economy, invest in our security, and our future. And we cannot wait another minute. I want to shine a spotlight on this because ive heard from georgians about the importance of this legislation and specifically investing in making more chips here in the United States. We know that chips are essential components in the products that support thousands of goodpaying jobs in georgia, not to mention things like cars, cell phones, computers, vacuum cleaners, a. Tnches m. s. Chips a. T. M. s. Chips are all around us, a host of products we rely on every single day. And we know that our chips supply chains are under significant strain both from production limits and geo political threats. But what you may not know is how these issues directly affect workers and companies on the ground all across the state of georgia, Companies Like kia which has a thriving facility out in west point, georgia, about halfway between atlanta and montgomery, alabama, on i85. Semiconductors are essential to the manufacturing of the roughly 340,000 vehicles kia produces in georgia every year. At least twice in the past year this facility which ive visited on more than one occasion has had to stop work at the plant because they didnt have enough chips. They had to stop working not because they didnt have enough customers but because they didnt have enough chips. I visited that west point facility and ive met with some of those workers, and i can tell you that the last thing that those workers need is to miss days off work and money out of their paychecks because we dont manufacture enough of the materials that they work with every single day. Its not just Car Manufacturers in georgia, the chip shortage is hurting our states economy in myriad ways, big and small. For instance, Steven Milner is the c. E. O. Of Planters Telephone cooperative, a memberowned Telecommunications Provider that does broadband expansion as well as broadband maintenance. His Company Needs equipment to do that work that requires semiconductors. And as he explained recently in the Atlanta Journal constitution, is has become harder to expand telephone and Internet Services to new businesses and homes in the Rural Communities he services because his company cant guarantee that it will get the parts needed to complete the job. So think about take. The chip shortage isnt just hurting jobs and bottom lines. Its hobbling our ability to expand Rural Broadband and farmers all across georgia will tell you you cant even farm efficiently without good broadband connection. And so this is devastating, especially for rural georgians and if we dont act soon, it will get worse. Weve got tone sure that all of our citizens weve got to ensure that all of our citizens can take full advantage of every opportunity in our changing economy. And this is a problem we can solve. We can solve it. The only thing that gets in the way of this right now is politics. So weve got to pass this bill. If we produce more chips here at home, it would boost domestic manufacturing, ease supply chain issues and help began to lower rising costs for goods that folks are experiencing in georgia and around the country. Why wouldnt we want to take steps to drive down costs for hardworking families right now. We work for them. Lastly, this bill contains provisions i fought for that will expand these tax incentives to companies down the semiconductor supply chain, supporting the hightech Semiconductor Plant being built in covington, georgia, that will create 400 new jobs. There are real economic consequences for people in my state if we do not pass this chips bill and make these investments. These are the human faces of the Public Policy that we would p pass, but thats not the only reason we need to get this bill done as urgently as possible. Mr. President , it also bears repeating that passing this legislation is critical to our National Security and strengthening our competitiveness against global actors like the Chinese Communist party. Chips are used in Technology Critical to our National Security. According to a 2020 report from the Semiconductor Industry association, in 1990 listen in 1990 the United States represented a 37 share of the worlds chip manufacturing capacity. Today that number is 12 . From 37 to 12 . I submit that this is unacceptable and it is a threat to our National Security. Weve heard from defense secretary austin, commerce secretary raimondo and other administration officials, we are at a Tipping Point, a Tipping Point where International Companies are making significant decisions about where they are investing their capital and putting down roots. In fact, weve already seen several of these entities hesitate to invest in American Manufacturing due to inaction and political gamesmanship right here in washington. So, mr. President , our ability to rise to this occasion will demonstrate whether the United States is willing to creed to innovation and economic Higher Ground to the communist Chinese Party or whether we will stand up to the peoples republic of china and reinvest in the manufacturing and innovation prowess that has made america a lone super power for decades. I submit that if we fail to pass this bill immediately, we will set back americas competitiveness for a generation or more. This critical moment requires all of us to put the country above politics. Imagine that. Put the country above politics. Put hardworking American Families who are doing the best they can right now above politics, and strengthen our nations competitiveness. So i urge