IPC Brings Funding, Workforce Message to Capitol Hill

By Chris Mitchell, vice president, global government relations 

The electronics manufacturing industry this week urged U.S. policy makers to take a “silicon-to-system” approach to CHIPS Act implementation and to step up efforts to build a high-skilled workforce for the industry’s needs.

Those were the key messages throughout a visit to Washington, D.C., this week by Matt Kelly, IPC vice president, technology solutions, and Dave Hernandez, IPC vice president of education. The pair participated in the NIST CHIPS R&D Standards Summit at the U.S. Commerce Department, as well as met with dozens of policymakers in Congress and in key executive branch agencies.

Securing Supply Chain through PCB, EMS Investments

At the Commerce/NIST event, Kelly emphasized that eliminating U.S. electronics supply chain risks requires a focus on printed circuit boards (PCBs) and advanced packaging in addition to semiconductor chips. Noting the investments going to ramp up domestic chip production through the CHIPS for America program, Kelly showed how the U.S. is more dependent on overseas suppliers for PCBs, IC substrates, and advanced packaging technologies that it is for chips.

In his presentation, he called for full funding to implement the Presidential Determination that PCBs are a vital national security interest and ensure the $2.5 billion for advanced packaging through the CHIPS program is fully leveraged to expand the PCB and EMS sectors.

Kelly shared the same message in meetings with advisors and policy directors from the offices of Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM); White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; House Committee on Science, Space and Technology; and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.   

Developing Workforce to Grow Domestic Capacity

At the NIST event, Hernandez advocated for a new approach to workforce development that currently puts a significant focus on training for the semiconductor industry but leaves the rest of the electronics industry chronically short of skilled workers.

In his presentation, he outlined many IPC programs that are helping to address the workforce shortage for PCB and EMS manufacturers, ranging from certification programs that certified more than 50,000 workers in 2022 alone; establishing college student chapters at more than 30 campuses to be a bridge between companies and students; and working to reach under-employed communities who can have a path to well-paying careers in the sector.

He also called for reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and tax credits and incentives for training and certification.

While in Washington, Hernandez also met staff from the Department of Defense Office of Innovation, Capability, and Modernization; the Department of Education Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education; the House Committee on Education and Workforce; and offices of Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT 4th District), Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI 5th District), and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA). 

Looking ahead, in addition to policies identified above, IPC will continue working:

• To enact legislation such as the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act (H.R. 3249) that would incentivize purchases of domestically produced PCBs and investments in factories, equipment, workforce training, and R&D.
• With the Department of Labor to ensure both accountability and industry alignment on the Apprenticeship Program Implementation so that students who complete the program have meaningful job opportunities.

Are there aspects of these issues that interest or concern you and your company? Please reach out to me or Rich Cappetto, IPC senior director of North American government relations, with your questions and suggestions.