U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), along with a group of bipartisan senators, sent a letter to the director of the National Economic Council, Brian Deese, urging him to work with Congress in addressing the global semiconductor shortage facing auto manufacturing. According to the Indiana Economic Development Council, over 100,000 Hoosiers work in the automotive manufacturing industry, which has over 500 automotive companies located in Indiana alone. The automotive industry contributes well over $15 billion to Indiana’s economy.

“We write to express our concerns about the impact that the global shortage of automotive-grade semiconductor chips will have on auto manufacturing in the United States. This shortage threatens our post-pandemic economic recovery, the consequences of which stand to be especially acute in dominant auto manufacturing states like ours. We believe that the incoming administration can continue to play a helpful role in alleviating the worst impacts of the shortage on American workers, and we urge you to work with us to address the global semiconductor shortage,” the senators wrote.

“All sectors of the economy need access to semiconductor chips, however we ask that the auto industry be recognized as the significant semiconductor consumer it is in any engagement. We also strongly urge you to support efforts to secure the necessary funding to swiftly implement the semiconductor-related provisions in the most recent National Defense Authorization Act, which would boost the production of semiconductor manufacturing and incent the domestic production of semiconductors in the future. While this is not an immediate fix, this engagement is also vital to maintain the competitive advantage of American auto manufacturing.”

Senators Young and Portman were joined by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

The full letter can be found here.

Resource: Greg Ellis at (317) 264-6881 or email: gellis@indianachamber.com