Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1506834
28 SMT007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2023 Feature Article by Nolan Johnson I-CONNECT007 In an op-ed published in San Jose's Mercury News 1 , U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) speaks to the importance of the electronics manufac- turing ecosystems in the United States. Eshoo's constituency is California's 16th district, based in Silicon Valley. Along with Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT), Eshoo introduced HR 3249, the Pro- tecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act, a bill supporting the U.S. printed circuit board man- ufacturing industry. In her opinion piece, Eshoo begins by reminding readers that U.S. production of semiconductors has dropped from 40% to 12% in the past 30 years, leaving our supply chains fragile and easily disrupted. She states: "To revitalize our domestic semiconductor industry, Congress passed the CHIPS and Sci- ence Act last year, and last week, the House of Representatives built on that investment by passing my bipartisan bill, the Securing Semi- conductor Supply Chains Act. is bill will ensure that the government develops strate- gies to attract investment in semiconductors here in the United States to bring our country back to No. 1 in the world in semiconductor manufacturing and to maintain our leadership in technological innovation. "While these bills are needed to reduce our reliance on foreign manufacturers and boost domestic investment, chips are just one source PCBs Garnering Legislative Support