Sherrill Marks CHIPS Anniversary by Delivering Federal Research Funding and Introducing Legislation to Bolster U.S. Competitiveness and Innovation

Watch the Congresswoman’s Check Presentation Here

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) visited Seton Hall University to announce a nearly one million dollar Community Project funding grant that will help upgrade research and training equipment at the university to expand advanced technology innovation and development. Additionally, she introduced new legislation, the Ensuring America’s Competitiveness and Technological Leadership Act, aimed at expanding the global competitiveness of American companies and U.S. leadership in the key technologies of the future.

Sherrill’s efforts mark the two-year anniversary of the passage of the historic CHIPS and Science Act, bipartisan legislation that she helped pass to spur investment in critical semiconductor manufacturing, research, and development. 

“During the past two years, the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act has fueled historic growth in American manufacturing and supply chains, critical semiconductor research and development – all while creating good-paying jobs and lowering prices for New Jersey families. I am excited to partner with Dr. Lopez to expand on that progress by securing nearly one million dollars in federal funding that will not only help Seton Hall remain on the cutting edge of research, but also give New Jersey students the experience they need to become industry leaders,” said Rep. Sherrill. “Additionally, I am excited to announce the third pillar of my American Jobs and Competition Plan, the Ensuring America’s Competitiveness and Technological Leadership Act. My legislation will help build on the CHIPS and Science Act by developing a whole-of-government strategy to support U.S. businesses on the world stage and combat unfair trade practices by foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party.”

Calling the CHIPS Act “a bold step in revitalizing the semiconductor industry and ensuring America remains at the forefront of innovation and manufacturing,” Seton Hall Provost and Executive Vice President Katia Passerini expressed her gratitude: “Thanks to the support of Congresswoman Mikie Sherril we will be teaching our students skills and techniques that will change the rest of their lives and contribute to our nation's journey towards technological excellence and economic resilience.”

Seton Hall Professor Jose Lopez, renowned for his pioneering work in plasma physics and microplasmas, agreed, noting that New Jersey is home to more scientists and engineers per square mile than any other state and that the awarding of this grant to Seton Hall was “a meaningful step towards ensuring that the United States is capable of producing more of the world's most advanced technologies.”

Listen to remarks from Congresswoman Sherrill, Professor Lopez, and Seton Hall University leadership here.

The Ensuring America’s Competitiveness and Technological Leadership Act would create a new, interagency national strategy on economic competitiveness and technological leadership, which would assess and expand governments plans and policies to support U.S. businesses on the world stage and combat unfair trade practices by foreign adversaries like the CCP. This bill is the third pillar of Rep. Sherrill’s American Jobs and Competition Plan, which will combat the CCP’s economic aggression, invest in American supply chains and reduce prices, and bring good-paying jobs back to New Jersey.

The legislation has also been endorsed by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, New Jersey Council of County Colleges, and Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Several organizations also issued statements of support:

“The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce supports the Ensuring America's Competitiveness and Technological Leadership Act, proposed by Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), because now more than ever we need our leaders from both parties to come together to focus on bipartisan economic growth policies that create prosperity for all - and enables our country to remain a global economic leader,” said Tom Bracken, President & CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “This type of collaboration sounds simple but it has been so elusive for so many years. The New Jersey Chamber has also been calling for a similar bipartisan initiative for New Jersey that would complement this effort. We commend Rep. Sherrill for her leadership and hope the proposal is enacted because our country is at a critical juncture and desperately needs a shared economic vision that is reviewed regularly.”

“I am deeply committed to addressing the critical challenges highlighted in recent reports and studies that underscore the urgent need for the United States to regain its leadership in key technologies and industries. This legislation introduced by Rep. Sherrill presents a vital opportunity for our nation to unite public and private resources, fostering innovation and reclaiming our position as a global leader in advanced technologies,” said Peter Connolly, CEO of New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. “By implementing a comprehensive strategy focused on economic competitiveness and technological leadership, we can create high-quality jobs, boost our economy, and secure our technological edge for future generations. I urge leaders in the private sector to join me in supporting this vital bill for the sake of our nation's future prosperity, ensuring that the U.S. remains at the forefront of innovation and sets the standards for the technologies that will shape the 21st-century global economy.”

“The Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) supports Representative Sherrill in her efforts to help strengthen our competitive edge and stimulate our economy and secure good paying jobs for our residents.  Any initiative which helps strengthen our businesses and workforce should be lauded and supported across the board, we commend Representative Sherrill for leading this effort,” said Anthony Russo, President of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey.

“The New Jersey Council of County Colleges commends Rep. Mikie Sherrill for her leadership in developing the Ensuring America’s Competitiveness and Technological Leadership Act. Our state’s 18 community colleges provide education and workforce training to over 240,000 New Jerseyans every year and partner with employers to meet their critical workforce needs in information technology, advanced manufacturing, logistics and supply chain management, renewable energy, and other emerging fields,” said Aaron R. Fichtner, Ph.D., President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. “Community colleges are critical institutions to innovation and economic growth and are committed to working with a wide array of government and industry partners to support our nation’s economic and technological competitiveness. The national competitiveness strategy, envisioned by this proposed legislation, will guide and support the important work of community colleges, and will connect their efforts to other critical policies and strategies.”

“Restoring U.S. advanced industry leadership and effectively confronting the discriminatory, mercantilist policies that undermine the competitiveness of the United States and like-minded allies will require sustained focus and a whole-of-government effort.  This bill is an important step in the right direction,” said Rob Atkinson, President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

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