SMT007 Magazine

SMT007-Aug2022

Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1475010

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 58 of 93

AUGUST 2022 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 59 tion. To give you a sense of where things are right now, there are three more weeks in July and then you have the August recess period. We meet for three weeks in September, then we recess in October. It's not the schedule I would choose, but that's the way an election year works. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it's going to take quite a bit in that short time- frame before the election season comes to get anything done outside of what's already in the pipeline. You might see something late break- ing as we approach the end of the year, but if the House flips, Democrats are going to offload all the appropriations responsibilities back onto the Republican side. In the meantime, last year's NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) succeeded in including language on printed circuit boards and that was enacted into law. So, we have seen more traction on the NDAA, but this particu- lar bill, HR 7677, is still on the front end. Kelly: Blake, that's a consistent message that we're hearing from everyone: With midterm election distractions, it's a long putt to think this bill gets approved this year. But obviously you have more visibility into that than we do. From a private industry standpoint, the Printed Circuit Board Association of America will continue to educate, advocate, and legislate as much as we can on behalf of the printed circuit board industry. e best thing we can do is to get more visibility and make people more conversant on what the issues are. We must keep driving home the idea that we need a trusted and resilient supply chain. Moore: Travis, I think the lead-in can be what gets done on the China legislation. at can give us a sense for the appetite that exists, given that CHIPS and SAPCB are similar and work- ing in concert. ere's at least an indicator that will tell us what might come of this. Matties: Travis, what can the fabricators do to help support and move this along? Kelly: PCBAA, as well as our colleagues IPC and USPAE, are sending a letter to the rep- resentatives of Congress signed by CEOs of domestic operations. As part of PCBAA, I have joined Will Marsh (VP, TTM Technologies) on Capitol Hill numerous times, meeting with Rep. Moore and other representatives, trying to get co-sponsors and further sponsors. e key is to continue advocating for the microelectronics domestic industry. It's impor- tant and a needed resource that we provide. Rep. Moore said it right: It's national and eco- nomic security. We need to continue to drive those points home. Johnson: Closing thoughts and remarks? Kelly: From the Printed Circuit Board Associ- ation of America and all its members, we very much appreciate the work that Blake Moore

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of SMT007 Magazine - SMT007-Aug2022