Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1530610
34 PCB007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2024 e 119th Congress is an opportunity to introduce our issues to new leaders in Con- gress as well as leaders in the agencies of gov- ernment. Reaching policymakers regardless of their party affiliation is at the heart of our mis- sion to educate, advocate, and legislate. We will hit the ground running in 2025. e new Congress is expected to take up a compre- hensive tax reform package that should include the 25% tax credit for the purchase of Ameri- can-made PCBs and substrates. I believe that with this tax credit, electronics manufactur- ers will see a positive impact on their bottom line and mitigate supply chain risk by choosing domestic sourcing. Since no one can predict the effect of tariffs on global supply chains, the U.S. must be ready to take up the slack. As we have seen with semi- conductors, increasing domestic production is possible with the right incentives. Being real- istic about the time needed to grow our capac- ity makes legislative and policy action all the more urgent. Remember that the semiconductor indus- try spent almost five years to secure significant government investment. Success in Washing- ton requires patience, persistence, and sus- tained focus. at is why we need all our mem- bers and allied organizations to pull together to educate and advocate for the domestic man- ufacturing of PCBs and IC substrates. It has taken us decades to reach where we are today; we cannot wait decades to reverse this vital part of the microelectronics ecosystem. PCB007 Shane Whiteside is president and CEO of Summit Interconnect and current chair of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America. To read past columns, click here. L-R: Shane Whiteside, Summit Internconnect; Frank Medina, Technica; Michael Coll, Denkai America; Kurt Palmer, Schmoll America; Tom Keily, JPS Composite Materials.