Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1522641
62 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2024 But we cannot remain so badly out of balance. To let this continue increases our risk of the kind of disruptions we saw during the pan- demic and are seeing today in conflict zones, shipping choke points, and unpredictable but highly probable severe natural disasters. We've had multiple wake up calls and should not wait until the next disruption to take action. Again, I wish Shane Whiteside every suc- cess as the new chair of PCBAA and will con- tinue to support the organization as a mem- ber of the board and through our Isola Group membership. PCBAA is making a difference in Washington, and I am proud to be a part of it. I encourage our members to invite others to join us in this important work. PCB007 Travis Kelly is CEO of Isola- Group and outgoing chair of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America. To read past columns, click here. What Our Industry Needs We are lobbying to be part of any future CHIPS 2.0 bill and continuing to secure co- sponsors for the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act (H.R.3249). Fighting our way through the clutter and noise in Washington requires sustained, focused communication with key Members of Congress and commit- tees or jurisdiction. Succeeding in getting both pieces of legislation would provide the robust public and private funding needed to increase domestic production of PCBs and substrates. Every company in our industry should contact their elected representatives and ask them to co-sponsor H.R.3249. Passing this legislation would benefit from, albeit at a more modest level, the public investment and private invest- ment that the CHIPS Act generated. Getting legislation passed is a long process. Remem- ber, it took four years to pass the CHIPS Act with the advantage of the backing of huge com- panies and trade organizations. Fix the Supply Chain for the Entire Technology Stack e dynamic that many policymakers and legislators don't understand is that no mat- ter how many chips America makes, we won't reduce the supply chain vulnerabilities with- out addressing the primary ecosystem, which includes chips, substrates, and PCBs, the lat- ter two items made almost entirely in Asia. ere is an unfortunate thought process that the CHIPS Act was a "one and done." As we talk to policymakers, influencers, and legis- lators, we must remind them that we need to support the entire technology stack to begin to level the playing field and reduce supply chain vulnerabilities. Correcting the Imbalance in the Supply Chain e reality is that we will never make 100% of the world's supply of PCBs and substrates. ere will always be a global supply chain.