Boise Mayor McLean to attend semiconductor bill signing at White House 

Boise Mayor Lauren McLean will attend President Joe Biden’s bill signing ceremony for the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 on Tuesday at the White House, city officials announced in a press release.

Passed by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives last month, the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act will provide more than $52 billion in funding for semiconductor manufacturing, scientific research and tax credits. 

McLean will attend the bill signing ceremony with Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra. Based in Boise, Micron is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of semiconductors.

“I am thankful for the President’s commitment to advancing legislation that is critical to protecting our country’s economic health and security, as well as our city’s economic vitality, our leading industry, and our workforce,” McLean said in a written statement. “I’m proud to witness the signing of the bill with Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra and reaffirm our commitment to supporting homegrown innovation and investing in an economy that uplifts everyone in our community, family wage jobs, and access to economic opportunity for all.”

Idaho’s entire congressional delegation — U.S. Reps. Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson and U.S. Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, all R-Idaho, voted against passing the CHIPS Act.

“Bringing semiconductor fabrication back to the U.S. is a pressing matter for both commercial and defense needs. I was proud to support CHIPS for America when passed as part (of the) FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act,” Simpson said in a written statement. “However, the CHIPS Plus bill that the House voted on today was a far cry from a clean bill to support U.S. competitiveness.”

“Rather than engage in good faith negotiations with Republicans on this legislation relating to semiconductors this session, Democrats chose to craft yet another bill that sends billions of taxpayer dollars to Democratic wish list items that have nothing to do with countering China’s stranglehold over critical resources,” Simpson continued. “I support funding for U.S. semiconductor production – but at a time when inflation is at record levels and Americans are already suffering under the crushing weight of rising prices, it is irresponsible to approve even more reckless spending that will almost certainly send our economy into recession.”