Gallego Calls for Local Labor, Strong Safety Standards in Semiconductor Manufacturing

PHOENIX, AZ – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) sent letters to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to request briefings regarding preserved labor shortages, efforts to ensure employment of local workers, and health and safety standards at manufacturing sites funded by the CHIP and Science Act of 2022.

The CHIPS and Science Act provides $52.7 billion for semiconductor research, development, manufacturing, and workforce development. Arizona is currently ranked fourth in semiconductor manufacturing, and over the coming years, is expected to see significant dollars from the Act with companies like TSMC, Intel, Microchip, and NXP investing in the state.

The letter states in part:

“The United States’ historic dependence on foreign semiconductor supply chains hurts our economy and our defense capabilities…However, growing domestic manufacturing is not only good for our economy and national security – manufacturing jobs support a strong middle class...We must do all we can to ensure that all Americans benefit from these historic investments.”

To protect the interests of American workers and ensure they are not displaced, Gallego requested a briefing from State and Labor on the following as it relates to entities that receive CHIPS funding in Arizona:

1. How many visa applications (and what type) have employees from these entities submitted?
2. For approved visas, how long will these employees be in the U.S., can the visas be extended, and under what conditions?
3. For visas requiring specialized skills (i.e., EB2 or E-2), was there an attempt to recruit U.S. workers?
4. What commitments or investments have been made to train local workers to serve in these roles long-term?

Read the full letter.

To ensure the health and safety of Arizona’s workforce, Gallego requested a briefing from Commerce covering:

1. Details on worker safety plans and any reports of violations or non-compliance.
2. Information on state or federal-level safety inspections.
3. Concerns regarding labor shortages or lack of specialized skills required for the project.
4. Information relating to the use of union labor in CHIPS and Science Act-funded projects.

Read the full letter.