This week, Senator Reverend Warnock voted to pass the jobs and competition bill through the United States Senate; the legislation passed both the Senate and House and will soon be signed by the President

Senator Reverend Warnock to Macon WMAZ: “I was born and raised in Georgia, educated in our state. I know we have the best and brightest minds in Georgia. We hope to both maintain the incredible talent that we have in Warner Robins and in middle Georgia and also attract others”

Senator Reverend Warnock to Savannah WTOC: “This once-in-a-generation investment will spur […] private sector development — which will create jobs and strengthen our supply chain”

Senator Reverend Warnock to the AJC: “The things I fought for are in the bill, and this is going to have a major impact on the people in the state of Georgia, not to mention the national security implications. Not only should Kia not be waiting on microchips from other countries, it is not good for us to be waiting on foreign actors to produce chips for our weapons system. It’s a real problem, and so I’m glad that we’re getting this over the finish line”

Washington, D.C. — This week, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and the conference committee for the jobs and competition bill, voted to pass long-awaited bipartisan legislation he championed to invest in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and make once-in-a-generation investments in STEM, workforce training, and science research and development. This bill passed both chambers of Congress with bipartisan support, with the Senate voting 64-33 and the House voting 243-187. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk, where he is expected to sign it. The federal investments in the bipartisan jobs and competition billwill make it easier to produce more semiconductor chips in the United States and increase funding for science-related research and development. It will also create and support good-paying jobs throughout the state, and will help to drive down rising costs by strengthening broken international supply chains.

See more coverage of Senator Warnock’s successful efforts in shepherding this bipartisan bill to lower costs and create Georgia jobs through Congress :

WMAZ: ‘A win-win for jobs’: Sen. Warnock supports Central Georgia ‘tech hubs’ boosting STEM careers

July 28, 2022

• “If you’re thinking about pursuing a STEM career, your first choice may not be to attend a school in Central Georgia. However, that could change soon. U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock is talking about a bill to support what he calls “tech hubs” in Central Georgia.”

• “Warnock calls it a bipartisan $280 billion investment in STEM, workforce training, and research and development.”

• [Senator Warnock:] “I was born and raised in Georgia, educated in our state. I know we have the best and brightest minds in Georgia. We hope to both maintain the incredible talent that we have in Warner Robins and in middle Georgia and also attract others.”

WTOC: Senate passes bill aimed at boosting U.S. chip production 

July 28, 2022

• “Georgia U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock is celebrating a victory on Capitol Hill after the Senate passed a bipartisan bill aimed at boosting U.S. chip production and competition with China.

• “The $280 billion “Jobs and Competition” bill puts money toward domestic chip production. Throughout the pandemic, chip shortages have had a negative impact on our economy.”

• [Senator Warnock:] “It means we’re waiting on chips, which we need in everything, to come from somewhere else. That means money out of people’s paychecks, it’s a drag on the economy, and this once-in-a-generation investment will spur that kind of private sector development – which will create jobs and strengthen our supply chain.”

AJC: Senate passes bill to boost U.S. computer chips production 

July 27, 2022

• “[Senator Warnock] said the downsized version still carries all of his priorities, including money to help ensure the Kia car plant in West Point, Georgia, and other manufacturers aren’t forced to shut down because of the scarcity of semiconductors.”

• [Senator Warnock:] “The things I fought for are in the bill, and this is going to have a major impact on the people in the state of Georgia, not to mention the national security implications. Not only should Kia not be waiting on microchips from other countries, it is not good for us to be waiting on foreign actors to produce chips for our weapons system. It’s a real problem, and so I’m glad that we’re getting this over the finish line”

WRDW: Cyber security bill helps fund Augusta research and businesses 

July 27, 2022

• “Warnock says the bill specifically allocates funding for cyber security research, which will lead to the creation of jobs and make existing technology jobs easier.”

• [Senator Warnock:] “With Fort Gordon, being right there with Augusta University and the need to invest in cyber security, this bodes well with our opportunity right there in the Augusta area.”

• [Senator Warnock:] “This means investments in innovation and microchips which we see in every aspect of our economy.”

Senator Warnock has prioritized robust domestic chip manufacturing funding since he took office. Senator Warnock specifically secured a provision in an earlier version of the competition bill to support companies like the KIA facility in West Point, Georgia, which has been forced to shut down operations multiple times due to the chips shortage. The Senator pushed Senate leaders to quickly pass robust competition legislation in May 2021, February 2022, and July 2022. The Senator visited the West Point KIA plant in June 2021 and October 2021 to see firsthand the impact of this shortage on Georgia workers. Additionally, the Senator has stayed in close contact with KIA executives on his work on this issue, including meeting with them in his DC office in May 2021. In April 2021, October 2021, March 2022, and April 2022, the Senator used his role on the Commerce Committee to highlight the need for domestic chip manufacturing and to push administration officials to take action on the shortage. The Senator was appointed by the Senate to represent Georgian on the jobs and competition bill conference committee in the spring, and has spoken on the Senate floor multiple times in support of this bill, most recently last week.

Additionally, Senator Warnock has pushed tirelessly for additional funding for STEM education, especially for HBCU’s and MSI’s. As an HBCU graduate, Senator Warnock has seen first-hand how HBCU’s have, for centuries, punched way above their weight. That’s why the Senator has prioritized securing generous STEM investments for all Georgia students, including HBCU and MSI, rural schools, as well as colleges and universities that may not traditionally receive federal STEM funding. In February 2022, Senator Warnock pressured House leadership to pass robust funding for HBCU’s STEM programs and worked closely with Congresswoman Alma Adams to get that legislation over the finish line. The Senator outlined his priorities on the Senate floor and secured Senate support for his provision to bolster HBCU research capacity. The Senator has also championed the creation of regional technology hubs, including visiting a pilot program of one of these hubs at Georgia Tech with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in December 2021. MIT researchers identified Warner Robins, Columbus, Savannah, and Sandy Springs as ideal locations for more of these hubs.

For more information about the wins Senator Warnock secured for Georgia in the bipartisan competition bill, visit HERE. 

For more information about Senator Warnock’s leadership in passing the bipartisan competition bill, visit HERE. 

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