Biden to sign microchips bill, which advocates say is 'incomplete' without immigration

WASHINGTON – As President Joe Biden prepares to sign a bipartisan bill that would boost domestic manufacturing of computer chips, some advocates said the bill is incomplete without immigration provisions.

Congress passed the bill, known as the CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) Act, last week. Supporters said it would help prevent supply chain shortages. Biden, who tested positive a second time for the coronavirus Saturday, is likely to sign the legislation in the coming days.

The latest

What’s in CHIPS? Roughly $52 billion in incentives for the semiconductor industry.

The shortage issue: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a shortage of semiconductor microchips, which power thousands of products such as cars, cellphones, appliances, gaming consoles and medical devices.

STEM worker shortage: Some top chip manufacturing companies raised concerns over a shortage of high-skill STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workers, calling on Congress to make it easier for those workers to stay in the USA, according to Politico.

More federal-state partnerships to come: Biden virtually joined an event with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer who signed legislation to boost semiconductor production in the state. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said it’s “the first example of the federal-state partnership that will launch across the country” as a result of the CHIPS Act.

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Why wasn't immigration included?

The House of Representatives included a provision in its version of the CHIPS legislation that would ease restrictions for immigrants with advanced science and technology degrees.

According to FWD.us, a pro-immigration lobbying group, up to $233 billion in wages could be added to the American economy this decade if there was a process for international students projected to graduate from U.S. colleges and universities to stay and work permanently in the USA.

The Senate scaled back the bill, cutting that provision.

For decades, Congress has failed to pass significant immigration changes. Over the past several weeks, a small bipartisan group of senators discussed immigration reform.

What can be done on immigration?

Some are concerned there are not enough highly skilled workers in the USA as it expands microchip manufacturing.

Esther Brimmer, executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a nonprofit association focusing on international education and exchange, said the White House should lead on a plan that brings together the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, to increase the number of international students at U.S. colleges and universities.

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“The national strategy on international students is crucial to help bring the talent to the United States,” she said.

Jeremy Robbins, executive director of the American Immigration Council, a nonprofit that advocates for immigrant rights, said Congress could pass a standalone bill aimed at getting immigrants with STEM degrees to stay in the USA.

“It is not a partisan issue,” Robbins said, pointing out that both Democrats and Republicans over the years have introduced legislation to expand rights for individuals with STEM or other skills degrees.

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What they are saying

• “The bill has supercharged our efforts to make semiconductors here in America,” Biden said during the virtual event in Michigan. “These tiny little computer chips the size of a fingertip are building on the building blocks of our modern economy, they power everything."

• Brimmer said, “Ultimately to succeed, we need to attract the high, high expertise, talent that actually spurs innovation.”

• “It's important that we have a complete policy approach. The CHIPS legislation is incomplete. It does not address the fundamental issue of human talent, the human capital that is required for advanced work in high-tech areas,” Brimmer said.

• Robbins highlighted that highly skilled workers aren’t needed just for industries in Silicon Valley: “We need innovation everywhere.”

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Contributing: Katherine Swartz and Joey Garrison; The Associated Press

Reach Rebecca Morin at Twitter @RebeccaMorin_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CHIPS Act: Immigration missing from Biden's microchips manufacturing bill