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The
68-28 procedural vote sends the legislation back to the House of
Representatives in a cumbersome process to ultimately launch a
formal process known as a "conference" where lawmakers from both
chambers will seek agreement on a compromise version.
A persistent industry-wide shortage of chips has disrupted
production in the automotive and electronics industries, forcing
some firms to scale back production, and there have been growing
calls to decrease reliance on other countries for
semiconductors.
The Senate first passed chips legislation in June that also
authorized $190 billion to strengthen U.S. technology and
research to compete with China, while the House passed its
version in early February.
The bills take different approaches to addressing U.S.
competitiveness with China on a wide range of issues, as well on
trade and some climate provisions.
Senate Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell said the vote was
crucial to "get us to real negotiations"
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the Senate vote was
another step "to strengthen our supply chains, make more in
America, and outcompete China and the rest of the world for
decades to come. We look forward to the House of Representatives
moving quickly to start the formal conference process as well."
A senior House Democratic aide said the chamber is set to take
up the measure and send it back to the Senate as soon as later
this week. The Senate will need to vote again to launch the
conference. A final agreement might not be reached until summer.
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders criticized the $52 billion in
subsidies, calling it "corporate greed" and said taxpayers
should get warrants or equity from profitable chips firms in
exchange for subsidies.
"The financial gains made by these companies must be shared with
the American people, not just wealthy shareholders," Sanders
said.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo noted that two decades
ago, the United States produced nearly 40% of all chips while
today it accounts for only 12% of global production. The Senate
vote moved the United States "one step closer toward
revitalizing American semiconductor manufacturing, securing our
critical supply chains and bringing home good-quality
manufacturing jobs."
On Friday, General Motors said it would halt production at a
pickup truck plant in Indiana for two weeks in April because of
the chips shortage.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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