Michigan members of Congress push leaders for chip funding

Washington — Nearly two-thirds of Michigan's congressional delegation urged House and Senate leadership to retain and quickly pass $52 billion in funding for domestic semiconductor production Thursday. 

The push comes two weeks after Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to move ahead on a bill aimed at increasing U.S. competition with China, which includes $2 billion set aside for production of "mature" chips used in the auto industry. The bill passed the Senate in June but had stalled in the House. 

Now, the two chambers will send the bill through a conferencing process to resolve any remaining policy disagreements. Michigan's members of Congress insist that if something is chopped, it shouldn't be the chips funding. 

In a separate letter signed by Democratic Reps. Debbie Dingell of Dearborn, Dan Kildee of Flint Township, Rashida Tlaib of Detroit, Brenda Lawrence of Southfield, Andy Levin of Bloomfield Township, Haley Stevens of Rochester Hills and Elissa Slotkin of Holly and Republican Reps. Fred Upton of St. Joseph and Peter Meijer of Grand Rapids Township, the delegation argued "inaction is not an option any longer" and that the consequences of further delay "could be dire."