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America’s competitive edge is at risk, as China and other competing countries take bold steps aimed at surpassing the U.S. as the global technology leader, according to a report released today by the Task Force on American Innovation (TFAI), an alliance of U.S. leaders in business, science, and academia. The report, titled Second Place America: […]

SIA today filed comments to the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in response to an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking of controls for “emerging” technologies. In accordance with requirements of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA), enacted into law as part of the defense authorization bill, BIS is required […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged in recent years as a potentially transformative technological leap forward, holding the potential to fundamentally change how individuals, societies, and nations interact. At the heart of all AI-related innovations is semiconductor technology. A new SIA white paper outlines the critical role of semiconductor technology in enabling AI and the government policies needed […]

Leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives today called on the Trump Administration to remove semiconductors and related products from a list of imports from China slated to be hit with tariffs of 25 percent in the coming days or weeks. In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, a bipartisan group of 49 Members of […]

SIA and a coalition of business, technology, and manufacturing leaders this week sent a letter to United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to highlight the importance of strong international trade secret protections that boost the competitiveness of U.S. companies and workers. Trade secrets are valuable intellectual property vital to continued growth and innovation in […]

At a forum on Capitol Hill earlier today, SIA and other tech and business leaders called for a national strategy to harness the immense potential of the Internet of Things (IoT), the semiconductor-enabled network of devices connected to the cloud from which data can be collected and analyzed, and to ensure U.S. leadership in this […]

Although President Trump announced last week that the U.S. will depart from the Paris climate agreement, the semiconductor industry will continue to take action to address climate change and promote environmental sustainability. The semiconductor industry has a long record of success in this area, including the following initiatives: 1. Reporting and Reducing Emissions of PFCs […]

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force, today unveiled his innovation agenda for the 115th Congress during an event at the U.S. Capitol. Many of the initiatives highlighted in Sen. Hatch’s plan align closely with the U.S. semiconductor industry’s policy priorities, including reforming America’s corporate tax system, investing in basic […]

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today unveiled a set of policy initiatives aimed at bolstering U.S. technology and innovation leadership. SIA welcomes attention from the presidential candidates on policies to strengthen the semiconductor industry and the broader tech sector. Secretary Clinton’s plan embraces a number of the semiconductor industry’s longstanding priorities, including the following: 1) Increasing the research […]

The Senate Judiciary Committee today convened a hearing to assess the risks to public health and safety posed by counterfeit products. The hearing covered the full range of counterfeit products, including consumer products, health and personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. While counterfeit semiconductors were not a focus of the hearing, the risks posed by counterfeit […]

The Senate today unanimously approved bipartisan legislation to strengthen the protection of trade secrets. Trade secrets are valuable intellectual property critical to continued growth and innovation in the semiconductor industry and across the U.S. economy. The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2015 (S.1890) would provide owners of trade secrets with new legal tools to prevent the theft […]

SIA this week endorsed bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would strengthen the protection of trade secrets. The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2015 (S.1890 and H.R. 3326) would create a federal civil cause of action that would empower U.S. companies to protect their trade secrets in federal court. The lead sponsors of the Senate bill, Sens. […]

On Oct. 11, 1976, the primary federal law pertaining to federal oversight of the production and use of chemicals, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), was enacted. The law has not been updated since, and there is widespread consensus from a wide range of stakeholders that the law needs to be reformed. In the coming […]

The House of Representatives last night approved the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Modernization Act of 2015 (H.R. 2576), legislation that would enhance the protection of health and the environment, while also providing the semiconductor industry and other sectors with certainty in the selection and use of chemicals. We applaud the House for passing this […]

The sound regulation of chemicals essential to semiconductor manufacturing is a key issue for the continued success of the U.S. semiconductor industry. SIA is encouraged that both houses of Congress have developed bipartisan bills (S. 697; House Discussion Draft) to modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), including positive reforms on many issues of interest […]

When it comes to the immigration debate in Washington, too often the facts get lost in the rhetoric. To set the record straight on immigration, SIA and a group of 18 other industry leaders have developed a document titled “Debunking the Myth that Immigration Harms America.” The document, which was presented today at a hearing […]

At a meeting in Vienna, Austria this week, a United Nations commission will decide whether to restrict the use of two chemicals of critical importance to the semiconductor industry under an international drug control agreement. In comments to the U.S. government, SIA outlined its strong opposition to the restriction of these chemicals and urged U.S. […]

SIA last week sent a letter to Senate leaders in support of the Immigration Innovation Act of 2015 (I-Squared Act), legislation introduced last week by a bipartisan group of senators led by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn). “The I-Squared Act would strengthen the U.S. economy and promote innovation by making important improvements […]

As we prepare for the official start of the 114th Congress on Jan. 6, it’s a good time to assess the election results and the landscape for semiconductor industry priorities in the new Congress. The most notable change in Washington from the 2014 elections is that Republicans gained the majority in the U.S. Senate for […]

Imagine if the complex electronics on a U.S. nuclear submarine were compromised by counterfeit microchips, or semiconductors. It might sound like the plot of an action film, but this story came dangerously close to being a reality. Earlier this year, a man named Peter Picone admitted that he sent counterfeit semiconductors to the U.S. Naval […]

Today is National Manufacturing Day, a day to recognize the importance of U.S. manufacturing and assess what is needed to strengthen it. One vital component to continued manufacturing strength in the U.S. is access to critical materials, the lifeblood of the manufacturing process. 

If you were one of the millions of Americans who got stuck in Labor Day traffic last weekend, take heart – there’s hope for quicker, less costly travel in the future.

Two recent articles illustrate the many ways in which advancements in semiconductors can promote energy efficiency and clean energy.

The semiconductor industry has long been vital player in driving U.S. innovation. For example, American semiconductor companies invested $32 billion in research and development in 2012 – one of the greatest shares of revenue of any industry – and nearly half of the top 20 U.S. corporate patent recipients are semiconductor companies, demonstrating the industry’s […]

Last month, the semiconductor industry and many other sectors breathed a collective sigh of relief when Congress approved legislation to secure the supply of helium, a gas that is essential for semiconductor manufacturing, medical devices, and a range of other applications. With that near-crisis in mind, SIA supports the idea of developing a plan for […]

In a statement released today, SIA commended House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) for his leadership in introducing the “Innovation Act” (H.R. 3309), legislation to reduce abusive patent litigation:

Helium legislation continues to bounce between the House and Senate, with both chambers overwhelmingly approving similar bills in recent days as the Oct. 1 deadline for final passage inches closer.

A Semiconductor Industry Association-led coalition of more than 120 technology, business, medical and education leaders today called on Congress to enact legislation to secure the supply of helium, a gas that is essential for semiconductor manufacturing and other types of advanced manufacturing, as well as scientific research. The broad and diverse coalition expressed the urgent […]

SIA yesterday testified at a hearing of the Environment and the Economy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding the primary federal law governing the regulation of chemicals, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The hearing focused on the process for reviewing new chemicals, the protection of confidential business information, and the impact of the […]

This Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on bipartisan legislation that would help secure the supply of helium, a gas that is critical for advanced manufacturing of semiconductors and other products, as well as scientific research. 

On March 20, the House Natural Resources Committee voted to approve the “Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act” (HR 527), a bipartisan bill that would address the impending cessation of sales of helium from the Federal Helium Reserve. The legislation now awaits action on the House floor, which will likely be scheduled sometime next month.

On Jan. 2, President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2013, legislation that, among other things, permits the Administration to return commercial satellites and related items – including radiation-hardened (or “rad hard”) semiconductors – to the jurisdiction of Export Administration Regulations administered by the Commerce Department after Congressional notification. This […]

It’s no secret that modern technology – enabled by semiconductors – has improved our lives dramatically by revolutionizing our communication, transportation, health care, business and entertainment systems, among many others. But sometimes we lose sight of what technology can do for our planet.