BASOM, N.Y. (WBEN) – Senator Chuck Schumer on Friday pushed for semiconducters to be manufactured in Western New York.
Congress passed $25 billion worth of spending to five sites across the country, including the STAMP campus in Genesse County. Semiconducters are used for defense equipment, such as communications systems, planes, and ships.
“In the past two decades, the US has gone from producing 24 percent of our semiconducters in the world to 12, less than we need,” Schumer said. “China has gone from zero to 16. If we do nothing, Asia will have 83 percent. That means if we have a real fight with China, they can stop the flow of semiconducters and kill us.”
Schumer said the semiconducters are vital for the defense of the country.