Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1456062
66 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2022 manufacturing through bills like the CHIPS for America Act and the U.S. Innovation and Competitive- ness Act (USICA). ese bills represent hundreds of billions of additional dollars in spending and incentives. • Federal rule-making and regulatory policy. It's not just Capitol Hill where we need to pay attention. At federal agencies like the Department of Commerce and the Department of Defense, leaders in the executive branch are writing rules and regulations which guide our customers in the national security space and shape the international markets we operate in. ese are just a few examples of the ways that the federal government influences American competitiveness and the health of our industry. ey are also potent reminders of why a sus- tained and focused PCB industry presence in Washington is so important. We cannot assume policymakers will under- stand our issues and our technologies. We can- not take for granted that our elected officials will be sympathetic to our arguments. It is incumbent upon us to educate, advocate, and legislate for the outcomes we want. erefore, the PCBAA was formed. Our growing association believes in, and continues to fight for, market fairness and a level playing field on which U.S. PCB manufac- turers, assemblers and critical material suppli- ers can compete and win. If you're interested in joining our effort, please visit us online or contact me directly. SMT007 Travis Kelly is the CEO of Isola-Group, current chairman of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America, and an I-Connect007 columnist. To read past columns or contact Kelly, click here. rightly sound the alarm over a 13% Ameri- can share of the semiconductor market, we are working to remind them that "chips don't float"—and a truly resilient supply chain must reflect that reality. Formed in 2021, the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA) is focused on legislative and regulatory initiatives in Washington. Here are examples of the activ- ities we are watching carefully and, in some cases, advocating for passage. • e annual federal budgeting process. Beginning with the release of the Presi- dent's Budget in the spring and continuing through the fall in most years, Congress works to authorize and appropriate funds for everything from national parks to the post office to the Department of Defense. In the last fiscal year this budget repre- sented nearly $4.8 trillion in federal spending. Not surprisingly, tens of thou- sands of interest groups are focused on this multi-month process, lobbying for their piece of this enormous pie. • Stand-alone economic development bills. Outside of the annual budget process, Congress oen acts to address specific problems, like those currently being felt by American consumers. Shortages of semiconductors have hit American markets hard, and in response, Congress and the administration are pushing for investment in domestic